Over the last several years, Haptic Feedback in Virtual Reality (VR) has seen significant developments allowing users to feel virtual objects. Haptics offers the possibility of tasks, like surgeries, to be performed remotely across the world and in the classroom. A question posed is how precise the actions of surgeons are when performing teleoperated surgical tasks. This study uses a "Hoop Wire Game" within a VR environment to quantify the differences in fine motor skills between novices and skilled surgeons. The game requires participants to guide a virtual wire loop along a winding path without touching the edges, simulating the delicate movements required in surgery. By tracking movement and measuring the size of errors (contacts with the "hoop"), smoothness of movement, and number of finger adjustments in the game, we aim to establish objective metrics for evaluating performance. The task will be performed using commercially available haptic gloves that provide touch sensations through pressurized air. Based on these metrics, we will evaluate the comfort levels and learning curves associated with VR training in different media. The same precision task will be performed within the simulated virtual environment, teleoperated using a physical robot that mirrors the surgeon's VR movements, and in a non-virtual environment. These comparisons address the crucial question of whether proficiency in VR translates directly to improved skills in traditional settings, particularly for experienced surgeons who may have less familiarity with VR technology. The expected result is for there to be no significant differences between the conditions. Lessons learned in this study can help to inform the way that tele-surgical and surgical training interactions are designed.
Surgical Precision during Haptic Virtual Reality
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Student Abstract Submission