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Stochastic resonance enhanced tactile feedback in laparoscopic surgery

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Abstract

Background

One of the disadvantages of laparoscopic surgery is its decreased tactile feedback. Surgical experience compensates for the decline in the sense of touch due to an improved ability to process visual information. Stochastic resonance (SR) is known to improve tactile sensation. In this study, we sought to improve the tactile feedback in laparoscopic surgery using SR to safely perform laparoscopic surgery.

Methods

Ten surgeons (nine males and one female, age: 30–44 years, median age: 34) with the experiences of >50 laparoscopic surgeries volunteered to participate in this study. We tested the hypothesis that low-level noise applied to the hand can enhance the tactile sensation during surgery. We performed this experiment under three hand conditions (bare-handed conditions, gloved conditions and using the laparoscopic instrument with gloved hands). A piezoelectric actuator that generates vibrations was attached on the radial side of the participant’s index finger or to the grip of the laparoscopic instrument. Fine-touch tests were performed using the Semmes–Weinstein test kit. Moreover, we planned laparoscopic suturing and knot-tying tasks in the dry box and using an animal model under controlled vibrations.

Results

In the touch tests using bare hands, gloved hands and the laparoscopic instrument, the mean correct ratio was significantly lower than that observed in the test with no vibrations. Moreover, the OSATS scores for the laparoscopic suturing and knot-tying tasks showed significantly better scores with vibrations.

Conclusions

This technique has a potential to be a great help in establishing safer and high-quality laparoscopic procedures.

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Acknowledgments

This study was partially funded by the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science.

Disclosures

Drs. Hiroyuki Sawada, Hiroyuki Egi, Minoru Hattori, Takahisa Suzuki, Shoichiro Mukai, Yuichi Kurita, Wataru Yasui and Hideki Ohdan have no conflict of interests or financial ties to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterological and Transplant Surgery, Applied Life Sciences, Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-Ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan

    Hiroyuki Sawada, Hiroyuki Egi, Takahisa Suzuki, Shoichiro Mukai & Hideki Ohdan

  2. Advanced Medical Skills Training Center, Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan

    Hiroyuki Egi & Minoru Hattori

  3. Department of Engineering, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan

    Yuichi Kurita

  4. Department of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan

    Shoichiro Mukai & Wataru Yasui

Authors
  1. Hiroyuki Sawada
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  2. Hiroyuki Egi
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  3. Minoru Hattori
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  4. Takahisa Suzuki
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  5. Shoichiro Mukai
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  6. Yuichi Kurita
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  7. Wataru Yasui
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  8. Hideki Ohdan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hiroyuki Egi.

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Sawada, H., Egi, H., Hattori, M. et al. Stochastic resonance enhanced tactile feedback in laparoscopic surgery. Surg Endosc 29, 3811–3818 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-015-4124-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-015-4124-y

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