Gaze-Controlled Based Robotic Scrub Nurse

"Hamlyn researchers proposed a novel smart operating room concept by using gaze-controlled based robotic scrub nurse, aiming to aid surgical process.

Within laparoscopic surgery, robotic devices have been developed to improve clinical outcomes, in so consolidating the shifts towards minimally invasive surgery (MIS). According to recent research reports, assistive robotic devices (ARD) have been evidentially proved that they do improve patient outcomes in surgery. ARD in surgery describes machinery that is controlled by the surgeon in support of surgical task delivery. In general, ARD afford surgical teams’ touch-less interaction, enhanced information accessibility and task execution. It thus could be seen as a “third hand” for surgeon in ad-hoc intra-operative surgical process.

In comparison with conventional laparoscopy, ARD can offer the surgical team to perform wider tasks and more degrees of motion. Moreover, ARD can also play a role to improve staff and patient safety, workflow and overall team performance.On the other hand, robotic scrub nurses (RSN) support the surgeon in selecting and delivering surgical instrument. Although there are currently several advanced developments in RSN on voice recognition interface (VRI) and hand gestures recognition, the limitation of both approaches cannot be neglected (such as the practicality of disruptive hand gestures and failures in voice recognition when scrubbed in noisy operating theatres)."

"A Hamlyn-led project previously proposed a novel gaze‑controlled flexible robotised endoscope system, aiming to assist interventional endoluminal therapy.

Interventional endoluminal therapy is rapidly advancing as a minimally invasive surgical technique. The expanding remit of endoscopic therapy necessitates precision control. Although several emerging endoscopic approaches have been proposed to facilitate advanced therapeutic procedures, many of these platforms require several operators (including an endoscopist to control the endoscope) and assistants in the operating theatre or endoscopy room.

This situation may increase cognitive load and distraction for the operator while performing a highly skilled and challenging technique. Eye tracking, on the other hand, is an emerging technology which allows intuitive control of devices. Within surgical specialties, visual gaze pattern analysis has been informative for assessing the cognitive burden associated with complex procedures.

This emerging technology may potentially be helpful for assisting the surgical process in control systems, as well as reducing the cognitive burden and distraction for the endoscopic operators."

Source: Imperial College, Hamlyn,