The ubiquitous nature of laparoscopic surgery and the decreased training time available for surgeons are driving an increased need for effective training systems to help surgeons learn different procedures. A cost-effective and user-friendly simulator has been designed to imitate specific training tasks for laparoscopic surgery in virtual environments via image processing and computer vision. The capability of using various actual surgical instruments suited for these specific procedures gives heightened fidelity to the simulator. Image processing via matlab software provides real-time mapping of the graspers in the workspace to the virtual reality (VR) environment (vizard software). Two different tasks (peg transfer and needle passing) were designed to evaluate trainees and compare their performance with characteristics of expert surgeons. Pilot testing of the system was carried out with 11 subjects to validate the similarity of this device with an existing surgical box trainer. Task completion time and muscle activity have been used as metrics for evaluation. The decrease in completion time for all subjects suggests similarity of skills transfer for both simulators. In addition, the p-value of muscle activity showed no significant differences for most muscles in the peg transfer task when using either the VR or physical analog environment and no significant differences for about half of the muscles in the needle passing task. Based on the results, the new proposed VR simulator appears to be a viable alternative to help trainees gain laparoscopic skills.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
March 2017
Research-Article
Design and Evaluation of a Portable Laparoscopic Training System Using Virtual Reality
Mohsen Zahiri,
Mohsen Zahiri
Department of Mechanical and Materials
Engineering,
University of Nebraska-Lincoln,
W342 Nebraska Hall,
Lincoln, NE 68588-0526
e-mail: mzahiri@huskers.unl.edu
Engineering,
University of Nebraska-Lincoln,
W342 Nebraska Hall,
Lincoln, NE 68588-0526
e-mail: mzahiri@huskers.unl.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Ryan Booton,
Ryan Booton
College of Public Health,
University of Nebraska Medical Center,
984310 Nebraska Medical Center,
Omaha, NE 68198-4310
e-mail: rbooton@unmc.edu
University of Nebraska Medical Center,
984310 Nebraska Medical Center,
Omaha, NE 68198-4310
e-mail: rbooton@unmc.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Ka-Chun Siu,
Ka-Chun Siu
Division of Physical Therapy Education,
College of Allied Health Professions,
University of Nebraska Medical Center,
984420 Nebraska Medical Center,
Omaha, NE 68198-4420
e-mail: kcsiu@unmc.edu
College of Allied Health Professions,
University of Nebraska Medical Center,
984420 Nebraska Medical Center,
Omaha, NE 68198-4420
e-mail: kcsiu@unmc.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Carl A. Nelson
Carl A. Nelson
Mem. ASME
Department of Mechanical
and Materials Engineering,
University of Nebraska-Lincoln,
W342 Nebraska Hall,
Lincoln, NE 68588-0526
e-mail: cnelson5@unl.edu
Department of Mechanical
and Materials Engineering,
University of Nebraska-Lincoln,
W342 Nebraska Hall,
Lincoln, NE 68588-0526
e-mail: cnelson5@unl.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Mohsen Zahiri
Department of Mechanical and Materials
Engineering,
University of Nebraska-Lincoln,
W342 Nebraska Hall,
Lincoln, NE 68588-0526
e-mail: mzahiri@huskers.unl.edu
Engineering,
University of Nebraska-Lincoln,
W342 Nebraska Hall,
Lincoln, NE 68588-0526
e-mail: mzahiri@huskers.unl.edu
Ryan Booton
College of Public Health,
University of Nebraska Medical Center,
984310 Nebraska Medical Center,
Omaha, NE 68198-4310
e-mail: rbooton@unmc.edu
University of Nebraska Medical Center,
984310 Nebraska Medical Center,
Omaha, NE 68198-4310
e-mail: rbooton@unmc.edu
Ka-Chun Siu
Division of Physical Therapy Education,
College of Allied Health Professions,
University of Nebraska Medical Center,
984420 Nebraska Medical Center,
Omaha, NE 68198-4420
e-mail: kcsiu@unmc.edu
College of Allied Health Professions,
University of Nebraska Medical Center,
984420 Nebraska Medical Center,
Omaha, NE 68198-4420
e-mail: kcsiu@unmc.edu
Carl A. Nelson
Mem. ASME
Department of Mechanical
and Materials Engineering,
University of Nebraska-Lincoln,
W342 Nebraska Hall,
Lincoln, NE 68588-0526
e-mail: cnelson5@unl.edu
Department of Mechanical
and Materials Engineering,
University of Nebraska-Lincoln,
W342 Nebraska Hall,
Lincoln, NE 68588-0526
e-mail: cnelson5@unl.edu
1Corresponding author.
Manuscript received January 4, 2016; final manuscript received August 30, 2016; published online December 21, 2016. Assoc. Editor: Chris Rylander.
J. Med. Devices. Mar 2017, 11(1): 011002 (6 pages)
Published Online: December 21, 2016
Article history
Received:
January 4, 2016
Revised:
August 30, 2016
Citation
Zahiri, M., Booton, R., Siu, K., and Nelson, C. A. (December 21, 2016). "Design and Evaluation of a Portable Laparoscopic Training System Using Virtual Reality." ASME. J. Med. Devices. March 2017; 11(1): 011002. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4034881
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Related Articles
Data Communication Pathway for Sensing Guidewire at Proximal Side: A Review
J. Med. Devices (June,2017)
Magnetic Chest Tube Positioning System
J. Med. Devices (June,2018)
Assessing the Importance of Surgeon Hand Anthropometry on the Design of Medical Devices
J. Med. Devices (December,2017)
Hydraulic Robotic Surgical Tool Changing Manipulator
J. Med. Devices (March,2017)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
The Simulation of Lunar Exploration and Image Transmission
International Conference on Advanced Computer Theory and Engineering (ICACTE 2009)
QRAS Approach to Phased Mission Analysis (PSAM-0444)
Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Probabilistic Safety Assessment & Management (PSAM)
Dimensional and Geometrical Tolerancing in Robust Design Environment
International Conference on Instrumentation, Measurement, Circuits and Systems (ICIMCS 2011)
