Precision Through Play: Enhancing Fundamental Laparoscopic Skill Acquisition Via Gamified XR and Pseudo-Haptics
Extended Reality (XR) technologies have shown potential to improve laparoscopic skills acquisition. Among fundamental skills in laparoscopic surgery is accurate instrument handling. Appropriate instrument alignment and a perpendicular path ensure movement efficiency and improved performance. This work introduces an interactive XR platform designed to support an immersive, engaging, and accessible environment that facilitates continuous practice. This platform incorporates a gamification layer enriched by pseudo-haptics that generate a motivational feedback loop, allowing trainees to continuously practice instrument manipulation and angle control. The platform monitors instrument orientation, computes angular deviation from an ideal reference vector, and assigns scores based on user performance. A point-based scoring component reinforces correct technique and penalizes deviations in tool alignment beyond predefined thresholds. Furthermore, a pseudo-haptic feedback mechanism is integrated to provide real-time tactile feedback when deviation exceeds tolerance. Combined with low-cost hardware and accessible deployment, the framework aims to increase training scalability, engagement, and improve skill acquisition. Preliminary evaluations indicate that integrating gamified feedback significantly improves precision, reduces angular variance, and encourages sustained practice.