Influence of surgical gloves on haptic perception thresholds.

BACKGROUND: Impairment of haptic perception by surgical gloves could reduce requirements on haptic systems for surgery. While grip forces and manipulation capabilities were not impaired in previous studies, no data is available for perception thresholds.

METHODS: Absolute and differential thresholds (20 dB above threshold) of 24 subjects were measured for frequencies of 25 and 250 Hz with a Ψ-method. Effects of wearing a surgical glove, moisture on the contact surface and subject's experience with gloves were incorporated in a full-factorial experimental design.

RESULTS: Absolute thresholds of 12.8 dB and -29.6 dB (means for 25 and 250 Hz, respectively) and differential thresholds of -12.6 dB and -9.5 dB agree with previous studies. A relevant effect of the frequency on absolute thresholds was found. Comparisons of glove- and no-glove-conditions did not reveal a significant mean difference.

CONCLUSIONS: Wearing a single surgical glove does not affect absolute and differential haptic perception thresholds.