Abstract
Purpose :
To present the development of a hands-free/feet-free prototype device that enables voice-guided dynamic visualization of the fundus during vitreoretinal surgery.
Methods :
An experimental study design was conducted to evaluate the usefulness of a new surgical microscope accessory for use in vitreoretinal surgery.
The device consists of a central receiver, a mechatronic system, and a headphone connected to the system via wifi.
A voice recognition module was developed and certain common commands used in retinal surgery were associated with specific words to generate the movement of an optical system associated with the surgical microscope.
Tests were organized in controlled environments to test the movements of the system in response to voice and also experimentally, in the operating room in a simulation of a vitreoretinal surgical process.
Results :
Laboratory tests confirmed the ability of the voice processor to recognize commands and generate the correct movements of an optical system that allowed the focus to be constantly maintained.
Subsequently, it was verified in the operating room, that the developed prototype could successfully solve the voice commands received during vitreoretinal surgery, visualizing the fundus of the eye adequately, without the intervention of the surgeon's hands/feet, facilitating the maneuvers of the optical system, during the different stages of the surgery.
Conclusions :
A device has been developed that functions as an accessory to a surgical microscope, which can recognize the surgeon's voice commands to perform dynamic visualization of the fundus during vitreoretinal surgery..
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Imaging in the Eye Conference, held in New Orleans, LA, April 21-22, 2023.