Evaluating the efficiency and ergonomics of a novel smart surgical lighting system: a passive oddball experiment with EEG measurements to assess workplace strain in clinical settings
DOI: 10.3389/fmedt.2025.1584606
archive: archived pipeline: cataloged verified
Get this paper ↗ (DOI — opens at the source; we link to it, we don't host it)
Summary
This study evaluates the efficiency and ergonomic benefits of the SmartOT system, a novel smart surgical lighting prototype designed to automatically prevent shadows on the surgical field. Traditional surgical lights require frequent manual adjustments to maintain visibility, which disrupts workflow, increases physical strain, and raises contamination risks. The research aimed to determine if this autonomous lighting system reduces workplace strain and cognitive load compared to conventional manual lighting. Additionally, the study assessed the feasibility of using electroencephalography (EEG) as an objective measure for quantifying cognitive workload in clinical settings. The experimental design involved 30 participants performing a simulated surgical task requiring the identification and placement of specific LEGO® bricks under time constraints. Participants underwent three randomized conditions: using the SmartOT system (automatic shadow compensation), using a conventional lamp with mandatory adjustments upon shadow appearance, and using a conventional lamp with optional adjustments. Cognitive load was measured objectively via EEG recordings, specifically analyzing the P300 event-related potential component, and subjectively using the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) questionnaire. Task performance was evaluated by tracking error rates and processing times. Results indicated that the SmartOT system significantly reduced subjective workload. NASA-TLX scores for mental demand, temporal demand, effort, and frustration were significantly lower in the smart lighting condition compared to both manual adjustment conditions. No significant differences were found in physical demand or perceived performance. Objectively, EEG analysis revealed a significantly higher P300 amplitude at electrode Fz during the smart lamp condition, which indicates reduced cognitive load. Behavioral data confirmed these findings, showing that participants made significantly fewer errors and had shorter processing times when using the SmartOT system compared to the mandatory manual adjustment condition. The study concludes that the SmartOT prototype significantly reduces errors and workload compared to conventional surgical lamps, supporting its potential to improve patient safety and operational efficiency in operating theaters. Furthermore, the successful application of EEG measurements validates the use of neuroergonomic methods for objectively assessing workplace strain in clinical environments. These findings suggest that autonomous lighting systems can mitigate the cognitive and physical burdens on medical personnel, offering a viable pathway for enhancing surgical ergonomics and reducing the risk of human error.
Provenance
The full processing record for this entry. Every stage of this paper's journey through the pipeline is logged — what ran, with which tool and model, how many attempts it took, and when it last completed.
| Stage | Outcome | Tool | Model | Prompt | Attempts | Completed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| discover | success | DOAJ | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-19 |
| archive | success | unpaywall | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-25 |
| extract | success | cached | — | — | 2 | 2026-06-26 |
| clean | success | clean | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-19 |
| chunk | success | chunk | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-19 |
| embed | success | embed | Qwen/Qwen3-Embedding-8B | — | 1 | 2026-06-19 |
| promote | success | — | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-19 |
| summarize | success | llm | qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant | summ-v5 | 1 | 2026-06-26 |
| tag | success | vector_similarity | — | — | 6 | 2026-06-19 |
| verify | success | — | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-26 |
Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-26; verification: verified.
Topics
Ranked by relevance to this paper. Hover a topic for its definition.
Information type
What kind of knowledge this paper contributes, grouped by family — independent of topic (what it is about) and method (how it was studied).
- Empirical Findings: self report data