Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Based Intraoperative Visualization is Increasingly Integrated Into Robotic Surgery Platforms; However, Its Impact on Surgeons' Cognitive Workload Remains Unclear. This Study Evaluated Perceived Workload Among Console Surgeons and Bedside Assistants According to Different

Impact of AI Visualization on Surgeons' Cognitive Workload in Single-Port Robotic Surgery

Robotic surgery is now widely adopted in urology, and the da Vinci Single-Port (SP) platform enables complex procedures through a single multichannel incision, with favorable perioperative and outpatient outcomes in selected patients. However, single-port access and AI implementation also introduce unique ergonomic and cognitive challenges for surgeons and operating room staff. Quantifying intraoperative workload has become crucial to understand how new technologies affect performance, safety and training.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) is a validated multidimensional instrument for subjective workload assessment and has been increasingly applied to surgical and specifically urologic practice. In parallel, augmented reality and artificial intelligence (AI) are emerging as tools to enhance intraoperative visualization and anatomical understanding during robot-assisted urologic procedures. The da Vinci TilePro multi-image display already allows simultaneous viewing of auxiliary imaging, but evidence on how real-time AI overlays integrated via TilePro affect cognitive workload in single-port urologic surgery is lacking. This prospective pilot study evaluates the impact of different TilePro visualization strategies on surgeon and bedside assistant workload, measured by weighted NASA-TLX scores, and explores associations with operative metrics in elective SP urologic procedures.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Urology
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Yolo

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 90
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Illinois
    • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60612
      • UI Health

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria: Urology surgeon or urology resident -

Exclusion Criteria: not urology surgeon or not urology resident

-

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Continuous AI visualization; the AI overlay was displayed continuously throughout the entire surgical procedure.	Other: Yolo; The AI system employed in this study was based on a convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture implemented via the YOLO (You Only Look Once) framework, specifically designed for real-time instance segmentation of intraoperative anatomical structures.
Active Comparator: Intermittent AI visualization; The operator selectively activated the AI visualization during key surgical phases according to preference	Other: Yolo; The AI system employed in this study was based on a convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture implemented via the YOLO (You Only Look Once) framework, specifically designed for real-time instance segmentation of intraoperative anatomical structures.
No Intervention: No AI visualization; No AI visualization use

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) questionnaire	The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) is a validated multidimensional instrument for subjective workload assessment and has been increasingly applied to surgical and specifically urologic practice	30 minutes after completing the surgey

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Illinois at Chicago

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 28, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 28, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 4, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 4, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 28, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Algorithms; Mathematical Concepts; Detection Algorithms
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2026-0199

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: The NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) questionnaire administered within 30 minutes
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: SAP

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No