Correlation Study and Predictive Modelling of Ergonomic Parameters in Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery.

Background: This study aims to continue research on the objective analysis of ergonomic conditions in robotic-assisted surgery (RAS), seeking innovative solutions for the analysis and prevention of ergonomic problems in surgical practice.

Methods: Four different robotic-assisted tasks were performed by groups of surgeons with different surgical experiences. Different wearable technologies were used to record surgeons' posture and muscle activity during surgical practice, for which the correlation between them was analyzed.

Assessing the Use of Virtual Pointers in Laparoscopic Surgery Training Activities.

Background: Laparoscopic surgery has advanced significantly; however, effective communication within the surgical team remains challenging, particularly in training scenarios where misinterpretation of instructions can lead to errors. Virtual pointers, indicating the instructor's gaze through eye-tracking devices and overlaying it onto the screen using augmented reality (AR), can enhance understanding and reduce errors.

Methods: In a study involving 10 participants divided into experts and novices in laparoscopic surgery, various pointers (differing in shape, size and colour) were analysed in an AR environment using the HoloLens2 device.

Applying artificial intelligence on EDA sensor data to predict stress on minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery.

Purpose: This study aims predicting the stress level based on the ergonomic (kinematic) and physiological (electrodermal activity-EDA, blood pressure and body temperature) parameters of the surgeon from their records collected in the previously immediate situation of a minimally invasive robotic surgery activity.

Methods: For this purpose, data related to the surgeon's ergonomic and physiological parameters were collected during twenty-six robotic-assisted surgical sessions completed by eleven surgeons with different experience levels. Once the dataset was generated, two preprocessing techniques were applied (scaled and normalized), these two datasets were divided into two subsets: with 80% of data for training and cross-validation, and 20% of data for test.

Comparative Study of Ergonomics in Conventional and Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery.

Background: This study aims to implement a set of wearable technologies to record and analyze the surgeon's physiological and ergonomic parameters during the performance of conventional and robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery, comparing the ergonomics and stress levels of surgeons during surgical procedures.

Methods: This study was organized in two different settings: simulator tasks and experimental model surgical procedures. The participating surgeons performed the tasks and surgical procedures in both laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgery in a randomized fashion.

Effect of three training programs on surgical performance in single-port laparoscopic surgery.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of three training methodologies on the acquisition of psychomotor skills for laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS), using straight and articulating instruments.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted with subjects randomly divided into three groups, who performed a specific training for 12 days using three laparoscopic tasks in a laparoscopic simulator. Group-A trained in conventional laparoscopy setting using straight instruments and in LESS setting using both straight and articulating instruments.

Development of Silk Fibroin Scaffolds for Vascular Repair.

Silk fibroin (SF) is a biocompatible natural protein with excellent mechanical characteristics. SF-based biomaterials can be structured using a number of techniques, allowing the tuning of materials for specific biomedical applications. In this study, SF films, porous membranes, and electrospun membranes were produced using solvent-casting, salt-leaching, and electrospinning methodologies, respectively.

Development and evaluation of different electroactive poly(vinylidene fluoride) architectures for endothelial cell culture.

Tissue engineering (TE) aims to develop structures that improve or even replace the biological functions of tissues and organs. Mechanical properties, physical-chemical characteristics, biocompatibility, and biological performance of the materials are essential factors for their applicability in TE. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) is a thermoplastic polymer that exhibits good mechanical properties, high biocompatibility and excellent thermal properties.

Correlating Personal Resourcefulness and Psychomotor Skills: An Analysis of Stress, Visual Attention and Technical Metrics.

Modern surgical education is focused on making use of the available technologies in order to train and assess surgical skill acquisition. Innovative technologies for the automatic, objective assessment of nontechnical skills are currently under research. The main aim of this study is to determine whether personal resourcefulness can be assessed by monitoring parameters that are related to stress and visual attention and whether there is a relation between these and psychomotor skills in surgical education.

Use of a new device for gasless endosurgery in a laparoscopic diaphragmatic hernia repair ex vivo canine model: A pre-clinical study.

Objectives: To test the feasibility of a new device for gasless laparoscopy in providing working space for diaphragmatic hernia repair in an ex vivo canine model as a pre-clinical study.

Study Design: Technical feasibility study.

Animal: Eight beagles and two greyhound cadavers (not client-owned).

Systematic Review of Tissue-Engineered Vascular Grafts.

Pathologies related to the cardiovascular system are the leading causes of death worldwide. One of the main treatments is conventional surgery with autologous transplants. Although donor grafts are often unavailable, tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) show promise for clinical treatments.

Block-matching-based registration to evaluate ultrasound visibility of percutaneous needles in liver-mimicking phantoms.

Purpose: To present a novel methodical approach to compare visibility of percutaneous needles in ultrasound images.

Methods: A motor-driven rotation platform was used to gradually change the needle angle while capturing image data. Data analysis was automated using block-matching-based registration, with a tracking and refinement step.

Identification of intra-abdominal lymphatics in canine carcasses by laparoscopic fluorescence lymphography with intradermal and intrapopliteal ICG administration.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of laparoscopic fluorescence lymphography (LFL) using indocyanine green (ICG) via intradermal (ID) or intrapopliteal (IPP) administration in an ex vivo canine model.

Methods: Six thawed adult male dog carcasses were placed in the Trendelenburg position after placing three surgical ports in triangulation. ICG (0.

Comparative Study of the Influence of Three-Dimensional Versus Two-Dimensional Urological Laparoscopy on Surgeons' Surgical Performance and Ergonomics: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The objective of this study is to compare the use of three-dimensional (3D) vision systems with traditional two-dimensional systems in laparoscopic urological surgery, analyzing the benefits, limitations, and impact of introducing this medical technology with regard to surgical performance and the surgeon's ergonomics. A systematic review with a structured bibliographic search was conducted in the electronic libraries (PubMed and EMBASE) until August 2019 and with no language restrictions. Studies on 3D visualization technology in laparoscopic urologic surgery, randomized controlled trials, and observational comparative studies were included.

European association for endoscopic surgery (EAES) consensus statement on single-incision endoscopic surgery.

Background: Laparoscopic surgery changed the management of numerous surgical conditions. It was associated with many advantages over open surgery, such as decreased postoperative pain, faster recovery, shorter hospital stay and excellent cosmesis. Since two decades single-incision endoscopic surgery (SIES) was introduced to the surgical community.

A Methodical Quantification of Needle Visibility and Echogenicity in Ultrasound Images.

During ultrasound-guided percutaneous interventions, needle localization can be a challenge. To increase needle visibility, enhancements of both the imaging methods and the needle surface properties have been investigated. However, a methodical approach to compare potential solutions is currently unavailable.

The use of 3D laparoscopic imaging systems in surgery: EAES consensus development conference 2018.

Background: The use of 3D laparoscopic systems is expanding. The European Association of Endoscopic Surgery (EAES) initiated a consensus development conference with the aim of creating evidence-based statements and recommendations for the surgical community.

Methods: Systematic reviews of the PubMed and Embase libraries were performed to identify evidence on potential benefits of 3D on clinical practice and patient outcomes.

Assessment of Postural Ergonomics and Surgical Performance in Laparoendoscopic Single-Site Surgery Using a Handheld Robotic Device.

Purpose: New laparoscopic devices are being continuously developed to overcome some of the technical and ergonomic limitations of laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) surgery. This study aims to assess the surgeon's surgical performance and ergonomics during the use of a handheld, robotic-driven, articulating laparoscopic instrument during LESS surgery.

Methods: Seven right-handed experienced surgeons took part in this study.

Interpretation of motion analysis of laparoscopic instruments based on principal component analysis in box trainer settings.

Background: Motion analysis parameters (MAPs) have been extensively validated for assessment of minimally invasive surgical skills. However, there are discrepancies on how specific MAPs, tasks, and skills match with each other, reflecting that motion analysis cannot be generalized independently of the learning outcomes of a task. Additionally, there is a lack of knowledge on the meaning of motion analysis in terms of surgical skills, making difficult the provision of meaningful, didactic feedback.

Anthropomorphic liver phantom with flow for multimodal image-guided liver therapy research and training.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to develop a multimodal, permanent liver phantom displaying functional vasculature and common pathologies, for teaching, training and equipment development in laparoscopic ultrasound and navigation.

Methods: Molten wax was injected simultaneously into the portal and hepatic veins of a human liver. Upon solidification of the wax, the surrounding liver tissue was dissolved, leaving a cast of the vessels.

Initial experience using a robotic-driven laparoscopic needle holder with ergonomic handle: assessment of surgeons' task performance and ergonomics.

Purpose: The objective of this study is to assess the surgeons' performance and ergonomics during the use of a robotic-driven needle holder in laparoscopic suturing tasks.

Methods: Six right-handed laparoscopic surgeons with different levels of experience took part in this study. Participants performed a set of three different intracorporeal suturing tasks organized in ten trials during a period of five weeks.

Use of natural user interfaces for image navigation during laparoscopic surgery: initial experience.

Background: Surgical environments require special aseptic conditions for direct interaction with the preoperative images. We aim to test the feasibility of using a set of gesture control sensors combined with voice control to interact in a sterile manner with preoperative information and an integrated operating room (OR) during laparoscopic surgery.

Material And Methods: Two hepatectomies and two partial nephrectomies were performed by three experienced surgeons in a porcine model.

Objective assessment based on motion-related metrics and technical performance in laparoscopic suturing.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to present the construct and concurrent validity of a motion-tracking method of laparoscopic instruments based on an optical pose tracker and determine its feasibility as an objective assessment tool of psychomotor skills during laparoscopic suturing.

Methods: A group of novice ([Formula: see text] laparoscopic procedures), intermediate (11-100 laparoscopic procedures) and experienced ([Formula: see text] laparoscopic procedures) surgeons performed three intracorporeal sutures on an ex vivo porcine stomach. Motion analysis metrics were recorded using the proposed tracking method, which employs an optical pose tracker to determine the laparoscopic instruments' position.

Construct validity of a video-tracking system based on orthogonal cameras approach for objective assessment of laparoscopic skills.

Purpose: This study was aimed to establish the construct validity of a video-tracking system based on orthogonal cameras approach for assessment of laparoscopic psychomotor skills in training environments.

Methods: The camera-tracking system consists of two webcams placed in orthogonal configuration at a distance of 13.5 cm.

Muscle activity and hand motion in veterinarians performing laparoscopic training tasks with a box trainer.

Objective: To evaluate muscle activity and hand motion in veterinarians performing a standard set of laparoscopic training tasks.

Sample: 12 veterinarians with experience performing laparoscopic procedures.

Procedures: Participants were asked to perform peg transfer, coordination, precision cutting, and suturing tasks in a laparoscopic box trainer.