Objective assessment of laparoscopic suturing skills using a motion-tracking system.

Background: Laparoscopic suturing skills are important for advanced laparoscopic surgery. However, objective assessment of these skills has not yet been established. The aim of this study was to assess the laparoscopic suturing skills of novice and experienced surgeons using an electromagnetic motion-tracking system.

Quantitative assessment of rotatory instability after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction successfully reduces anterior knee instability, but its effect on rotatory stability is not fully understood. In addition, a definitive method for the quantitative evaluation of rotatory instability remains to be established.

Hypothesis: Measurement of anterolateral tibial translation by open magnetic resonance imaging could positively correlate with the clinical grading of the pivot-shift test and would clarify residual rotatory abnormalities not shown by conventional methods for measurement of anterior stability.

Nanoparticles of adaptive supramolecular networks self-assembled from nucleotides and lanthanide ions.

Amorphous nanoparticles of supramolecular coordination polymer networks are spontaneously self-assembled from nucleotides and lanthanide ions in water. They show intrinsic functions such as energy transfer from nucleobase to lanthanide ions and excellent performance as contrast enhancing agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Furthermore, adaptive inclusion properties are observed in the self-assembly process: functional materials such as fluorescent dyes, metal nanoparticles, and proteins are facilely encapsulated.

Tumor ablation therapy of liver cancers with an open magnetic resonance imaging-based navigation system.

Background: As minimally invasive treatments for liver cancers, percutaneous ablation therapies represent a valid alternative to liver resections, especially in patients with poor liver function. Recently, image-guided surgical and interventional procedures using open magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been introduced.

Methods: We performed percutaneous ablation therapy for 51 nodules of liver cancer in 34 patients using a navigation system based on open MRI.

Construct validity for eye-hand coordination skill on a virtual reality laparoscopic surgical simulator.

Background: This study was carried out to investigate whether eye-hand coordination skill on a virtual reality laparoscopic surgical simulator (the LAP Mentor) was able to differentiate among subjects with different laparoscopic experience and thus confirm its construct validity.

Methods: A total of 31 surgeons, who were all right-handed, were divided into the following two groups according to their experience as an operator in laparoscopic surgery: experienced surgeons (more than 50 laparoscopic procedures) and novice surgeons (fewer than 10 laparoscopic procedures). The subjects were tested using the eye-hand coordination task of the LAP Mentor, and performance was compared between the two groups.

Assessment of anterolateral rotatory instability in the anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knee using an open magnetic resonance imaging system.

Background: In the clinical evaluation of the anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knee, anterolateral rotatory instability is assessed by manual tests such as the pivot-shift test, which is subjective and not quantitative.

Hypothesis: The anterolateral rotatory instability in an anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knee can be quantified by our newly developed method using open magnetic resonance imaging.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.