A Development of Robotic Scrub Nurse System – Detection for Surgical Instruments Using Faster Region-Based Convolutional Neural Network

Abstract

There is presently a shortage of nurses in Japan, with a further shortage of 3,000–130,000 nurses expected. There is also shortage of scrub nurses. Scrub nurses are nurses who work in the operating room. The main job of scrub nurses is to assist surgeons. Scrub nurses are a high turnover rate, because it is a difficult job. Therefore, system for assisting scrub nurses are needed. The purpose of this study was to develop a robotic scrub nurse. As a first step, a detection system for surgical instruments was developed using the “Faster Region-Based Convolutional Neural Network” (Faster R-CNN). In experiments, computer graphics (CG) model images and 3D-printed model images were evaluated, and the system showed high accuracy. Consequently, the Faster R-CNN system can be considered as suitable for detecting surgical instruments.