Randomised comparison between navigation and non-navigation-assisted camera control performance in a surgical simulation task using a haptic device interface.

Background: Navigation skills for controlling the camera in the surgical field are critical for many minimally invasive surgery (MIS) procedures. Currently, endoscopes lack integrated navigation aids, making camera control a challenging task. This experimental study aims to investigate the effect of navigation guidance on the performance of beginners.

Methods: A custom computer-based simulation environment was developed for this study, featuring two conditions - one with navigation guidance and one without - focussed on a camera-cleaning task. Participants (64 beginners) were randomly assigned to one of these groups and used two haptic devices to simulate the endoscope and surgical tools.

Results: Participants in the guided condition performed significantly better than those in the unguided condition. Notably, female participants completed the task in significantly less time under the guided condition compared to the unguided one.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that incorporating navigation aids into endoscope interfaces could improve user performance, especially for beginners. Medical device manufacturers should consider adding navigation features to enhance usability. In addition, simulation-based instructional systems should integrate navigation aids to better support surgical training.