Generalizing Soft Tissue Deformation and Force Prediction Across Material Stiffness and Geometry

Accurate soft tissue simulation is essential for surgical training, pre-operative planning, and haptic feedback systems. While learning-based surrogate models trained on data using the finite element method (FEM) offer a promising path to real-time inference, their reliability depends on well-calibrated constitutive models. Existing approaches neither provide systematic guidance on model selection across stiffness levels, nor generalize across different tissue stiffnesses or geometries. We perform a comprehensive calibration of hyperelastic constitutive models in the SOFA Framework using gravity-loaded silicone beams with different stiffnesses. Using calibrated simulations as training data, we use a softness conditioned equivariant graph neural network, enabling deformation and force prediction across multiple tissue types and unseen geometries. Our model achieves sub-millimeter mean deformation accuracy at 0.010s inference time, while showing that force prediction quality is directly tied to upstream calibration consistency.

Constructing Predictive Surgical Path for AI-based Capsulorhexis Skill Transfer

Automated training of surgeons is one of the most crucial factors that significantly minimize surgical training risks and expenses. With recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) knowledge and available data from various surgeries, AI's involvement in surgical training is becoming very promising. It is recommended that at the early stages of AI development, it interferes in the surgery as a third agent alongside the trainer. As trust in AI increases, this process will lead to an AI agent acting as a trainer in the future. The first phase in which AI can intervene in the training process is to suggest an improved surgical path to the trainer. A platform must be constructed in the first step, to accomplish this task and to enhance the movement path of trainee surgeons. This paper introduces this platform along with an annotated capsulorhexis surgery dataset called the ARAS-Farabi dataset. In this research, a deep convolutional neural network is pre-trained with JIGSAWS and ARAS-Farabi surgical datasets that can extract surgical skill characteristics from surgery tool tip motion data. The proposed platform develops a reference model from the feature space of an expert surgeon's movement trajectory and proposes an improved path to enhance the skill of a novice surgeon. An optimization with two loss functions is utilized to create a path that raises the skill level of the novice surgeon's path while simultaneously predicting and preserving his/her intent. The results of this study reveal that, with the assistance of an AI agent, the trainee surgeon's movement path can be enhanced by at least 20 percent while maintaining his intentional objective. In addition to the recommended deep network, various tangible indicators have also been developed in this research to verify the level of trainee improvement.

Expert Consensus on Criteria for the Automated Assessment of Laparoscopic Camera Navigation

Background: Laparoscopic camera navigation (LCN) is a critical skill, yet its current assessment typically relies on manual rating systems which are time-consuming and difficult to scale. Automated feedback could significantly enhance surgical training by providing immediate, standardized metrics. This study aims to define, clinically evaluate the relevance, and establish the technical readiness of a set of approaches for LCN assessment. Methods: We developed a detailed taxonomy of 14 key aspects of camera navigation, categorized into Framing & Composition, Visibility & Clarity, Orientation & Stability, Motion & Dynamics, and Safety & Awareness. For each aspect, we assessed the technological readiness of automated measurement based on the current state of the art (SoTA) in computer vision (CV). To establish clinical relevance, we designed a survey for practicing laparoscopic surgeons to rate the importance of each aspect on a 5-point Likert scale and to select the five most critical skills. Results: 23 surgeons participated in the survey. Foundational aspects like Field of View, Focus and Centering were rated as most important by surgeons. We present a "Clinical Importance vs. CV Technological Readiness" matrix, identifying high-priority targets for development--aspects that are both clinically crucial and technologically ready to measure. Conclusion: This work establishes a foundational framework for quantifying LCN skills. By aligning surgeon priorities with CV capabilities, we provide a clear roadmap for automatic skill assessment. This foundation enables the development of AI-driven assistance tools that can accelerate the learning curve for surgical assistants and potentially improve surgical safety and efficiency.