Assessing Surgical Instrument Usability With A Testbench Based on Motion Capture and Robotic Arm: A Pilot Study

The potential of robots in assessing the usability of medical devices is yet to be explored, despite the increasing regulatory requirements for manufacturers. This study introduces a testbench combining motion analysis and robotics to assess the end-point force experienced by surgeons in their clinical practice. The hand-surgical-instrument trajectory, measured with a motion capture system while a single subject emulated a routine surgery, was reproduced with a robotic arm. The end-point force was then measured with a load cell. Results demonstrate optimal agreement between captured and reproduced trajectories, enabling precise force analysis. Its potential versatility and accuracy make it well-suited for device evaluation in regulatory compliance.