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Publication:

Surgical Technology International XVIII - Surgical Overview

Article title:

Automation in Surgery: A Systematic Approach

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Author(s)

D. Manzey, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Psychology and Ergonomics
Berlin Institute of Technology
Berlin, Germany

 

G. Strauss, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of ENT
Innovation Center Computer Assisted Surgery (ICCAS)
University of Leipzig
Leipzig, Germany

 

C. Trantakis, M.D.
Department of Neurosurgery
Innovation Center Computer Assisted Surgery (ICCAS)
University of Leipzig
Leipzig, Germany

 

T. Lueth, Ph.D.
Professor
Micro- and Medical Devices
Technical University Munich
Munich, Germany

S. Röttger, Dipl. Psych.
Department of Psychology and Ergonomics
Berlin Institute of Technology
Berlin, Germany

J.E. Bahner-Heyne, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology and Ergonomics
Berlin Institute of Technology
Berlin, Germany

A. Dietz, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor
Department of ENT
University of Leipzig
Leipzig, Germany

 

J. Meixensberger, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Neurosurgery
University of Leipzig
Leipzig, Germany

Abstract

This chapter proposes a classification of surgical assistance systems with respect to their type and level of automation. This classification is based on previous work in the field of human factors and takes two aspects into consideration, the type of information-processing function of the surgeon that is supported by the system, as well as the type of function allocation between surgeon and systems. With respect to the former, three basic functions are distinguished, referred to as information acquisition and analysis, decision making and planning, and execution of surgical action. With respect to the type of function allocation, the status of being either "passive" or "active" comes into consideration for both objects of reference (i.e. the surgeon and the machine), depending on whether a given function is mainly performed by the surgeon, by the system, or collaboratively by both. Hence, a classification results for intraoperative assistance systems in six categories, each of these representing a different degree of automation. The classification scheme is explained and illustrated on the basis of examples of surgical assistance systems from various fields.