Yang Cao1, Li Liu2, Satoshi Miura3, Masaki Seki4, Yo Kobayashi5, Kazuya Kawamura6, Masakatsu G Fujie3. 1. Graduate School of Creative Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan. a15caoyang@fuji.waseda.jp. 2. Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan. 3. Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan. 4. Graduate School of Creative Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan. 5. Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan. 6. Center for Frontier Medical Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Our purpose is to develop a system based on image processing methods that can inform users of the angular relationship between the needle and the forceps. The user thereby adjusts their needle grasping posture according to the angle information, which leads to an improvement in suturing accuracy. METHODS: The system prototype consists of a camera and an image processing computer. The image captured by the camera is input to the computer, and then, the angular relationship between the forceps and needle is calculated via image processing. Then, the system informs the user of the calculated angular relationship between the needle and forceps in real time. To evaluate whether the system improves suturing accuracy, we invited 12 participants to enroll in an experiment based on a suturing task. RESULTS: The experimental results illustrate that the system allows participants to easily adjust the positional relationship between the needle and the forceps and that this adjusted angular relationship leads to higher suturing accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: Adjustment to holding the needle at a right angle before insertion has a critical effect on suturing quality. Therefore, we developed a system that informs the user of the angular relationship between the needle and the forceps. The results of the evaluation show that the system significantly improves the suturing accuracy of participants via informing them of the angle.
PURPOSE: Our purpose is to develop a system based on image processing methods that can inform users of the angular relationship between the needle and the forceps. The user thereby adjusts their needle grasping posture according to the angle information, which leads to an improvement in suturing accuracy. METHODS: The system prototype consists of a camera and an image processing computer. The image captured by the camera is input to the computer, and then, the angular relationship between the forceps and needle is calculated via image processing. Then, the system informs the user of the calculated angular relationship between the needle and forceps in real time. To evaluate whether the system improves suturing accuracy, we invited 12 participants to enroll in an experiment based on a suturing task. RESULTS: The experimental results illustrate that the system allows participants to easily adjust the positional relationship between the needle and the forceps and that this adjusted angular relationship leads to higher suturing accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: Adjustment to holding the needle at a right angle before insertion has a critical effect on suturing quality. Therefore, we developed a system that informs the user of the angular relationship between the needle and the forceps. The results of the evaluation show that the system significantly improves the suturing accuracy of participants via informing them of the angle.
Authors: Christian Wengert; Lukas Bossard; Armin Häberling; Charles Baur; Gábor Székely; Philippe C Cattin Journal: Med Image Comput Comput Assist Interv Date: 2007