Development of a human machine interface for robotically assisted surgery optimized for laparoscopic workflows

Abstract Introduction In robotic-assisted surgery (RAS), the input device is the primary site for the flow of information between the user and the robot. Most RAS systems remove the surgeon’s console from the sterile surgical site. Beneficial for performing lengthy procedures with complex systems, this ultimately lacks the flexibility that comes with the surgeon being able to remain at the sterile site. Methods A prototype of an input device for RAS is constructed. The focus lies on intuitive control for surgeons and a seamless integration into the surgical workflow within the sterile environment. The kinematic design is translated from the kinematics of laparoscopic surgery. The input device uses three degrees of freedom from a flexible instrument as input. The prototype’s performance is compared to that of a commercially available device in an evaluation. Metrics are used to evaluate the surgeons’ performance with the respective input device in a virtual environment implemented for the evaluation. Results The evaluation of the two input devices shows statistically significant differences in the performance metrics. With the proposed prototype, the surgeons perform the tasks faster, more precisely, and with fewer errors. Conclusion The prototype is an efficient and intuitive input device for surgeons with laparoscopic experience. The placement in the sterile working area allows for seamless integration into the surgical workflow and can potentially enable new robotic approaches.