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A new system for evaluation of armrest use in robotic surgery and validation of a new ergonomic concept – armrest load
Author(s) -
Yang K.,
Perez M.,
Perrenot C.,
Hubert N.,
Felblinger J.,
Hubert J.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the international journal of medical robotics and computer assisted surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.556
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1478-596X
pISSN - 1478-5951
DOI - 10.1002/rcs.1723
Subject(s) - workspace , simulation , trainer , workload , telerobotics , physical medicine and rehabilitation , computer science , robot , medicine , artificial intelligence , mobile robot , programming language , operating system
Background The da Vinci robot provides a sitting position and an armrest to decrease workload and increase dexterity. We investigated the surgeon's ergonomic behaviour by installing force sensors on the dV‐Trainer® simulator's armrest to measure the 'armrest load' during the performance of simulated exercises. Methods Five experts and 48 novices performed two robotic simulation exercises on the dV‐Trainer. We calculated the armrest load and evaluated their armrest‐using habits. Overall score and workspace range were evaluated automatically by the simulator and compared with armrest load. Results Statistically significant differences exist for overall score, workspace range and armrest load between novices and experts. Conclusion The armrest load score is a direct, sensitive measure for the ergonomic evaluation of a simulator's armrest use. This experience‐dependent ergonomic difference between experts and novices ( p = 0.007) highlights the importance of ergonomic training for novice robot users. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.