A new mixed reality tool for training in minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery

Robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) is developing an increasing role in surgical practice. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to introduce this paradigm into surgical training programs. However, the steep learning curve of RAS remains a problem that hinders the development and widespread use of this surgical paradigm. For this reason, it is important to be able to train surgeons in the use of RAS procedures. RAS involves distinctive features that makes its learning different to other minimally invasive surgical procedures. One of these features is that the surgeons operate using a stereoscopic console. Therefore, it is necessary to perform RAS training stereoscopically. This article presents a mixed-reality (MR) tool for the stereoscopic visualization, annotation and collaborative display of RAS surgical procedures. The tool is an MR application because it can display real stereoscopic content and augment it with virtual elements (annotations) properly registered in 3D and tracked over time. This new tool allows the registration of surgical procedures, teachers (experts) and students (trainees), so that the teacher can share a set of videos with their students, annotate them with virtual information and use a shared virtual pointer with the students. The students can visualize the videos within a web environment using their personal mobile phones or a desktop stereo system. The use of the tool has been assessed by a group of 15 surgeons during a robotic-surgery master’s course. The results show that surgeons consider that this tool can be very useful in RAS training.