| Laparoscopic surgery is performed in constrained and remote environment, which represents one of many situations where free movement and direct manipulation are lacking. Even though people are adaptable and able to perform under selective/selected sensory deprivation by relying on other sensory channels, there is a limit to the information processing capacity that allows them to compensate in this way.;The goal of this research was to improve the performance and training of MIS (minimally invasive surgery) surgeons through technological innovations capable of providing haptic feedback. Four experiments were conducted to (1) determine the usefulness of haptics for novices with a simple laparoscopic training task when cognitive distraction is presented; (2) examine the effect of haptic feedback for initial and more extensive training in laparoscopic surgery with a complex suturing and knot-tying task; (3) explore the potential of the upper arm for equipping surgeons with vibrotactile communication device; and (4) investigate relative contribution of modulation parameters of a wearable vibrotactile sensory augmentation device to benefit surgical palpation task.;The results indicated that haptic feedback not only enhanced performance time and accuracy, but also countered the effect of cognitive loading, with more benefits to experienced surgeons. In addition, training with haptics led to more consistent task performance and a shorter learning curve. However, after initial several hours of practice, trainings with or without haptics were not different. The proposed location of upper arm showed considerable sensitivity to square waveform vibrotactile stimulus. Vibrotactile augmentation device successfully improved the performance accuracy, confidence, force control, and force discrimination ability. Meanwhile, as more parameters of the vibration signal were modulated and proper fixed parameter levels were designated, the vibrotactile augmentation tends to be more effective. However, careful considerations must be given to information processing capacity of the subjects to optimize the performance.;This work is applicable to the development of surgical simulators and training curriculum for the surgical residents in minimally invasive surgery. It contributes to the psychophysical understanding of vibrotactile perception and the development of vibrotactile communication systems that could be beneficial in many areas. |
