Human-machine interfaces for minimally invasive surgery

Increasing numbers of surgical procedures are performed using minimally invasive techniques, in which trauma to external tissue is minimized. Unfortunately, reduced access reduces dexterity, limits perception, increases strain and the likelihood of error, and lengthens procedure time. Surgical technology must improve the interface between task requirements and human abilities. This paper describes three projects to evaluate and improve the human interface in laparoscopic surgery, or minimally invasive surgery of the abdomen: (a) measurement of movement trajectories under different visual conditions to determine the effect of viewing geometry, (b) the development of virtual environments for training, and (c) the development of haptic interfaces and control algorithms for teleoperative surgery.