Evaluating the performance of a new ergonomic laparoscopic needle holder for intracorporeal suturing.

In laparoscopy, the absence of ergonomics in the instruments affects the performance and efficiency of the surgeon, increasing the likelihood of developing musculoskeletal injuries. This article presents the development of a laparoscopic needle holder with an ergonomic handle and the experience in its use with surgeons in the intracorporeal suturing task. The handle of the laparoscopic needle holder consists of a semi-spherical piece that easily adapts to the palm of the surgeon's hand and improves the posture and ergonomics of the wrist, allowing the direct transmission of rotational movements around the longitudinal axis of the instrument towards the tip.

Novices' learning curve in single-port surgery using three surgical training programs.

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the novices' learning curves and proficiency level reached in laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) surgery using three surgical training programs.

Material And Methods: Participants were randomly divided into three groups, who trained in a specific practice regimen for 12 days using a laparoscopic box simulator and three tasks. Group A trained in three stages using conventional laparoscopic surgery (CLS) with straight instruments, and LESS with straight and articulating instruments for four days each.

Objective psychomotor laparoscopic skills evaluation using a low-cost wearable device based on accelerometry: construct and concurrent validity study.

Background: Motion analysis of surgical maneuvers provides useful quantitative information for the objective evaluation of the surgeons. However, surgical simulation laboratories for laparoscopic training do not usually integrate devices that help quantify the level of skills of the surgeons due to their limited resources and the high costs of new technologies. The purpose of this study is to present the construct and concurrent validity of a low-cost motion tracking system, based on a wireless triaxial accelerometer, employed to objectively evaluate psychomotor skills of surgeons during laparoscopic training.

Face, content, and construct validity of the virtual immersive operating room simulator for training laparoscopic procedures.

Background: The aim of this work is to present the face, content, and construct validation of the virtual immersive operating room simulator (VIORS) for procedural training of surgeons' laparoscopic psychomotor skills and evaluate the immersive training experience.

Methods: The VIORS simulator consists of an HMD Oculus Rift 2016 with a visor on a 1080 × 1200 pixel OLED screen, two positioning sensors with two adapted controls to simulate laparoscopic instruments, and an acrylic base to simulate the conventional laparoscopic setup. The immersion consists of a 360° virtual operating room environment, based on the EndoSuite at Hospital Infantil de Mexico Federico Gomez, which reproduces a configuration of equipment, instruments, and common distractions in the operating room during a laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedure.

Steerable Surgical Instrument for Conventional and Single-Site Minimally Invasive Surgery.

This article aims to present an innovative design of a steerable surgical instrument for conventional and single-site minimally invasive surgery (MIS), which improves the dexterity and maneuverability of the surgeon while offering a solution to the limitations of current tools. The steerable MIS instrument consists of a deflection structure with a curved sliding joints design that articulates the distal tip in two additional degrees of freedom (DoFs), relative to the instrument shaft, using transmission by cables. A passive ball-joint mechanism articulates the handle relative to the instrument shaft, improves wrist posture, and prevents collision of instrument handles during single-site MIS procedures.