Transferable situation recognition system for scenario-independent context-aware surgical assistance systems: a proof of concept

Abstract

Purpose Surgical interventions and the intraoperative environment can vary greatly. A system that reliably recognizes the situation in the operating room should therefore be flexibly applicable to different surgical settings. To achieve this, transferability should be focused during system design and development. In this paper, we demonstrated the feasibility of a transferable, scenario-independent situation recognition system (SRS) by the definition and evaluation based on non-functional requirements. Methods Based on a high-level concept for a transferable SRS, a proof of concept implementation was demonstrated using scenarios. The architecture was evaluated with a focus on non-functional requirements of compatibility, maintainability, and portability. Moreover, transferability aspects beyond the requirements, such as the effort to cover new scenarios, were discussed in a subsequent argumentative evaluation. Results The evaluation demonstrated the development of an SRS that can be applied to various scenarios. Furthermore, the investigation of the transferability to other settings highlighted the system’s characteristics regarding configurability, interchangeability, and expandability. The components can be optimized step by step to realize a versatile and efficient situation recognition that can be easily adapted to different scenarios. Conclusion The prototype provides a framework for scenario-independent situation recognition, suggesting greater applicability and transferability to different surgical settings. For the transfer into clinical routine, the system’s modules need to be evolved, further transferability challenges be addressed, and comprehensive scenarios be integrated.