Assessing Quality of Computer Systems and User Interfaces of Future Medical Workplaces – Augmented Reality for Minimally Invasive Therapy

Background- Minimally invasive therapies and its key limiting factors Minimally invasive therapy is one of the most important trends in modern medicine. It is performed through one or several small incisions, using specialized medical instruments such as endoscopic videos and robotic tools. Recently new materials and technologies led to new developments in the domains of computer guided surgery and computer-enhanced surgical robotic systems. Samset (2005) describes the current key limiting factors of MIT by: immature and unreliable tools for real-time 3D-navigation, fragmented research (geographically and disciplinary) and lack of researchers capable to operate across the integrated fields of 3D visualisation, image processing, robotics and radiology as while having sufficient insight into relevant ergonomic aspects for MIT. The European research training network “Augmented Reality in Surgery ” (ARIS*ER) aims to fill this gap (Freudenthal et al. 2005). Human factor (HF) specialists are equal partners in the ARIS*ER consortium; research in the core technologies goes parallel with ergonomic research. The design of the user interfaces is effectuated by a user centered approach in iterative steps (Freudenthal 2005) and involves all eight partners: engineers (image processing (segmentation and registration), robotics, 3D visualization and tracking), surgeons and human factors specialists. To fulfil the high aim to face the lack of sensory feedback and information support for the surgical team, the system will have to achieve highest quality as well in usability (e.g. DIN EN 60601-1-6)