Design and evaluation of an ergonomic handle for a steerable arthroscopic cutter: applying the human factor engineering framework to improve ergonomics

Every year over 30.000 patients in the Netherlands alone are operated to repair a damaged meniscus. Damage to the meniscus occurs due to a combination of excessive torque and compression forces on the knee joint. The current arthroscopic cutters that are used during meniscectomies can only reach limited areas of the meniscus. During the...

Force measurement metrics for simulated elbow arthroscopy training

Background: Elbow arthroscopy is a difficult surgical technique. Objective metrics can be used to improve safe and effective training in elbow arthroscopy. Force exerted on the elbow tissue during arthroscopy can be a measure of safe tissue manipulation. The purpose of this study was to determine the force magnitude and force direction used...

An Instrument for Matching Defect and Implant Size in Matrix-induced Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation

Cartilage defects in the knee lead to limitations in the daily life of a large group of people in the worldwide population. Research on the treatment of cartilage injuries has lead to various clinical procedures, one of them being Matrix Induced Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (MACI). MACI surgery consist of two procedures. During the first...

Development of a Flexible Steerable Needle

Background <br/>Current procedures for repairing damage to the articular cartilage in the ankle are not satisfying patient needs and have a minimum rehabilitation time of 4 months. The Chondro project aims to develop an all-in-one polyclinical procedure where diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation can be performed in one session reducing the...

What arthroscopic skills need to be trained before continuing safe training in the operating room?

The purpose of this study was to generate consensus among experienced surgeons on what skills a resident should possess before continuing safe training in the operating room (OR). An online survey of 65 questions was developed and distributed to surgeons in the European community. A total of 216 responded. The survey included 15 questions...

SpaceCrea: A surgical device to provide better accessibility in the hip joint during the procedure of hip arthroscopy

During the last decade the procedure of hip arthroscopy became rapidly more popular in orthopedic surgery. Hip arthroscopy is a minimal invasive procedure that require only small incisions to perform the surgery. It is a relative difficult procedure with a long learning curve. This is because the anatomy of the hip joint is complex compared to...

Design of a Force Measurement Table, providing objective force feedback during arthroscopic training on cadaver specimen

To improve arthroscopic skills, orthopaedic residents train on medical simulators and cadaveric training courses. Some medical simulators provide feedback while cadaveric specimen offer the most realistic training environments. Providing objective feedback while training on cadaveric specimen will be an major improvement to the cadaveric...

Analysis of a 2D motion performance measurement system for assessing surgical skills

The aim of this study was to investigate if motion performance metrics for minimally invasive surgery could be derived from a two-dimensional measurement, for surgical procedures in which the movements are restricted to a defined plane. As it was assumed that for arthroscopy in the knee such behavior is present, a knee arthroscopy simulator was...

Performance of arthroscopic irrigation systems assessed with automatic blood detection

Probing forces of menisci: What levels are safe for arthroscopic surgery

Purpose To facilitate effective learning, feedback on performance during arthroscopic training is essential. Less attention has been paid to feedback on monitoring safe handling of delicate tissues such as meniscus. The goal is to measure in vitro probing forces of menisci and compare them with a theoretical maximum probing force (TMPF). Method...

Design of a compliant steerable arthroscopic punch

Meniscectomy is a medical procedure where ruptured meniscal tissue is removed within the knee joint. The con- ventional cutters fail to reach the entire meniscus. Therefore, the focus of this study is to create a cutter with a steerable tip, which allows sideway steering to increase the reacha- bility within the knee joint. Additionally, this...

First validation of the PASSPORT training environment for arthroscopic skills

The demand for high quality care is in contrast to reduced training time for residents to develop arthroscopic skills. Thereto, simulators are introduced to train skills away from the operating room. In our clinic, a physical simulation environment to Practice Arthroscopic Surgical Skills for Perfect Operative Real-life Treatment (PASSPORT) is...