Towards Data-Driven Hierarchical Surgical Skill Analysis

Abstract: This paper evaluates methods of hierarchical skill analysis developed in aerospace to the problem of surgical skill assessment and modeling. The analysis employs tool motion data of Fundamental of Laparoscopic Skills (FLS) tasks collected from clinicians of various skill levels at three different clinical teaching hospitals in the United States. Outcomes are evaluated based on their ability to provide relevant information about the underlying processes across the entire system hierarchy including control, guidance and planning.