Laparoscopic Motor Learning and Workspace Exploration (original) (raw)

Play Me Back: A Unified Training Platform for Robotic and Laparoscopic Surgery

In this letter, we propose a training approach combining handover hand and trial and error training approaches and we evaluate its effectiveness for both robotic and standard laparo-scopic surgical training. The proposed approach makes use of the data of an expert collected while using the da Vinci Surgical System. We present our data collection system and how we use it in the proposed training approach. We conduct two user studies (N = 21 for each) to evaluate the effectiveness of this approach. Our results show that subjects trained using this combined approach can better balance the speed and accuracy of their task execution compared with others trained using only one of either handover hand or trial and error training approaches. Moreover, this combined approach leads to the best performance when it comes to the transferability of the acquired skills when testing on another task. We show that the results of the two studies are consistent with an established model in the literature for motor skill learning. Moreover, our results show for the first time the feasibility of using a surgical robot and data collected from it as a training platform for conventional laparoscopic surgery without robotic assistance. Index Terms-Medical robots and systems, surgical sobotics: laparoscopy, surgical training, training by demonstration.

Training program for fundamental surgical skill in robotic laparoscopic surgery

The international journal of medical robotics + computer assisted surgery : MRCAS, 2011

BackgroundAlthough the use of robotic laparoscopic surgery has increased in popularity, training protocols for gaining proficiency in robotic surgical skills are not well established. The purpose of this study was to examine a fundamental training program that provides an effective approach to evaluate and improve robotic surgical skills performance using the da Vinci™ Surgical System.Although the use of robotic laparoscopic surgery has increased in popularity, training protocols for gaining proficiency in robotic surgical skills are not well established. The purpose of this study was to examine a fundamental training program that provides an effective approach to evaluate and improve robotic surgical skills performance using the da Vinci™ Surgical System.MethodsFifteen medical students without any robotic surgical experience were recruited. Participants went through a 4-day training program for developing fundamental robotic surgical skills and received a retention test 1 day after the completion of training. Data analysis included time to task completion, average speed, total distance traveled and movement curvature of the instrument tips, and muscle activities of the participants' forearms. Surgical performance was graded by the modified Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills for robotic laparoscopic surgery. Finally, participants evaluated their own performance after each session through questionnaires.Fifteen medical students without any robotic surgical experience were recruited. Participants went through a 4-day training program for developing fundamental robotic surgical skills and received a retention test 1 day after the completion of training. Data analysis included time to task completion, average speed, total distance traveled and movement curvature of the instrument tips, and muscle activities of the participants' forearms. Surgical performance was graded by the modified Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills for robotic laparoscopic surgery. Finally, participants evaluated their own performance after each session through questionnaires.ResultsSignificant training effects were shown for the time to task completion (p < 0.001), average speed (p < 0.01), and movement curvature (p < 0.05) for the test conditions. Significant learning effects were also found for EMG activation (p < 0.05). Participants reported more mastery, familiarity, and self-confidence and less difficulty in performing fundamental tasks with the surgical robot in both post-testing and retention sessions.Significant training effects were shown for the time to task completion (p < 0.001), average speed (p < 0.01), and movement curvature (p < 0.05) for the test conditions. Significant learning effects were also found for EMG activation (p < 0.05). Participants reported more mastery, familiarity, and self-confidence and less difficulty in performing fundamental tasks with the surgical robot in both post-testing and retention sessions.ConclusionsOur 4-day training program comprising of a series of training tasks from fundamental to surgical skill levels was effective in improving surgical skills. Further studies are required to verify these findings with a longer period of retention. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Our 4-day training program comprising of a series of training tasks from fundamental to surgical skill levels was effective in improving surgical skills. Further studies are required to verify these findings with a longer period of retention. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Does practice make perfect? Laparoscopic training mainly improves motion efficiency: a prospective trial

Updates in Surgery

Training improves skills in minimally invasive surgery. This study aimed to investigate the learning curves of complex motion parameters for both hands during a standardized training course using a novel measurement tool. An additional focus was placed on the parameters representing surgical safety and precision. Fifty-six laparoscopic novices participated in a training course on the basic skills of minimally invasive surgery based on a modified Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) curriculum. Before, twice during, and once after the practical lessons, all participants had to perform four laparoscopic tasks (peg transfer, precision cut, balloon resection, and laparoscopic suture and knot), which were recorded and analyzed using an instrument motion analysis system. Participants significantly improved the time per task for all four tasks (all p < 0.001). The individual instrument path length decreased significantly for the dominant and non-dominant hands in all four tasks. S...