Multi-Sensory Guidance and Feedback for Simulation-Based Training in Robot Assisted Surgery: A Preliminary Comparison of Visual, Haptic, and Visuo-Haptic

Nowadays, robot assisted surgery training relies more and on computer-based simulation. However, the application of such technologies is still limited to early stages practical training. To broaden usefulness simulators, multi-sensory feedback augmentation has been recently investigated. This study aims at combining initial predictive (guidance) subsequent error-based (feedback) in visual haptic domain. 32 participants performed 30 repetitions a virtual reality task resembling needle-driving by using surgeon console da Vinci Research Kit. These trainees were randomly equally divided into four groups: one group had no augmentation, while other groups underwent visual, visuo-haptic respectively. Results showed significant improvement, initially introduced guidance, completion capabilities all experimental against control. In terms accuracy, outperformed control end Specifically, guidance played role error reduction. Further investigations long term learning could better delineate optimal combination these sensory domains.