PURPOSE Improper suturing may cause an inadequate wound healing process and wound dehiscence as well as infection and even graft rejection in case of corneal transplantation. Hence, training surgeons in correct suturing procedures and objectively assessing their surgical skills is desirable. METHODS Two complementary methods for assessment of suturing skills in two medical fields (general surgery and ocular microsurgery) were demonstrated. Suturing quality is assessed by computer vision software. Evaluation of stitching flow of operation is based on measuring strain induced in an optical fiber that is placed in proximity to the wound and parallel thereto and is pressed and passed by wound stitches. RESULTS Our software generated a score for suturing outcome in both general surgery and ocular microsurgery when the stitching was done on a patch. Every trainee received a score in the range 0-100 that describes his/her performance. Strain values were recognized when using a patch in general surgery and a rubber patch in ocular microsurgery, but were less distinct in (disqualified) human cornea. CONCLUSIONS We proved a concept of an objective scoring method (based on various image processing algorithms) for assessment of suturing performance. It was also shown that fiber optic strain sensors are sensitive to the flow of stitching operation on a patch but are less sensitive to the flow of stitching operation on a human cornea. By combining these two methods, we can comprehensively evaluate the suturing performance objectively.

中文翻译：

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通过结合基于计算机视觉的软件和分布式光纤应变传感器来评估普通外科和眼科显微外科手术中的缝合性能：概念验证。

目的缝合不当可能会导致伤口愈合过程不足，伤口裂开以及感染，甚至在角膜移植的情况下甚至导致移植排斥。因此，需要培训外科医生正确的缝合程序并客观地评估其手术技能。方法在两种医学领域（普通外科和眼部显微外科）中，证明了两种评估缝合技术的补充方法。通过计算机视觉软件评估缝合质量。缝合操作流程的评估是基于测量光纤中引起的应变，该光纤放置在伤口附近并与伤口平行，并通过伤口缝合压紧并通过。结果当在贴片上缝合时，我们的软件在普通外科手术和眼部显微外科手术中均产生了缝合结局评分。每个受训者都获得了0-100的分数来描述他/她的表现。在普通外科手术中使用贴片和在眼部显微手术中使用橡胶贴片时，可以识别出应变值，但在（不合格的）人角膜中，应变值的区别较小。结论我们证明了一种客观评分方法（基于各种图像处理算法）的概念，用于评估缝合性能。还显示了光纤应变传感器对贴片上的缝合操作的流程敏感，但是对人角膜上的缝合操作的流程较不敏感。通过结合这两种方法，我们可以客观地全面评估缝合性能。在普通外科手术中使用贴片和在眼部显微手术中使用橡胶贴片时，可以识别出应变值，但在（不合格的）人角膜中，应变值的区别较小。结论我们证明了一种用于评估缝合性能的客观评分方法（基于各种图像处理算法）的概念。还显示了光纤应变传感器对贴片上的缝合操作的流程敏感，但是对人角膜上的缝合操作的流程较不敏感。通过结合这两种方法，我们可以客观地全面评估缝合性能。在普通外科手术中使用贴片和在眼部显微手术中使用橡胶贴片时，可以识别出应变值，但在（不合格的）人角膜中，应变值的区别较小。结论我们证明了一种用于评估缝合性能的客观评分方法（基于各种图像处理算法）的概念。还显示了光纤应变传感器对贴片上的缝合操作的流程敏感，但是对人角膜上的缝合操作的流程较不敏感。通过结合这两种方法，我们可以客观地全面评估缝合性能。还表明，光纤应变传感器对贴片上的缝合操作流程敏感，但对人角膜上的缝合操作流程较不敏感。通过结合这两种方法，我们可以客观地全面评估缝合性能。还表明，光纤应变传感器对贴片上的缝合操作流程敏感，但对人角膜上的缝合操作流程较不敏感。通过结合这两种方法，我们可以客观地全面评估缝合性能。