Reusable Synthetic Tissue for Severe Trauma Training

The dNovus team is pleased to present its proposal to address the challenge of developing reusable synthetic tissue for trauma training. We propose a conceptual system and approach called “TraumaSKINS” which will provide a family of appliqués/attachments to existing and future patient simulators and which will have the “look and feel” of real, traumatized tissue. Emotional learning is one of the most salient issues for trauma care training because of the psychological impact of witnessing severe injury. Emotional learning for trauma care is one of the most difficult to train because it requires high fidelity and realism, particularly to medical personnel who already have some experience with trauma. Large numbers of medical training patient simulator “dummies” have been developed and sold for medical training. The TraumaSKINS approach puts emphasis on developing appliqués and attachments to existing and future patient simulator “dummies” in order to minimize cost. Special effects technologies will be used as a basis for development of this family of appliqués and/or attachments which can be made from inexpensive moldable materials that simulate the various types of tissue involved in traumatic injury. The TraumaSKINS developmental approach will use a spiral development process and the Instructional System Design (ISD) methodology.