Implementation and evaluation of a gesture-based input method in robotic surgery

The introduction of robotic master-slave systems for minimally invasive surgery has created new opportunities in assisting surgeons with partial or fully autonomous functions. While autonomy is an ongoing field of research, the question of how the growing number of offered features can be triggered in a time-saving manner at the master console is not well investigated. We have implemented a gesture-based user interface, whereas the haptic input devices that are commonly used to control the surgical instruments, are used to trigger actions. Intuitive and customizable gestures are learned by the system once, linked to a certain command, and recalled during operation as the gesture is presented by the surgeon. Experimental user studies with 24 participants have been conducted to evaluate the efficiency, accuracy and user experience of this input method compared to a traditional menu. The results have shown the potential of gesture-based input, especially in terms of time savings and enhanced user experience.