Compartment Syndrome Simulator

ToLTech will design a realistic and adaptive, virtual reality based simulator for training diagnostic and surgical skills related to Compartment Syndrome. The simulator will use haptic and graphic display to give the student the experience of feeling and seeing the interaction of virtual tools, including scalpels, forceps, retractors, and fingers with the virtual patient. The simulated patients will be derived from the Visible Human and will present a variety of symptoms related to CS. Multiple modalities including x-ray, fluoroscopy, ultrasound and transparency will be used to interrogate the virtual patients. The simulator will be combined with a Mentor program that will guide and test the development of the student. This training tool can be used and reused in a learner-centered environment and utilized at the user's pace and time. A full curriculum for a wide variety of CS related scenarios will be provided in the Phase II portion of this grant. Milestone demonstrations of the fidelity of the virtual anatomy and virtual tools will be available during the Phase I portion of the grant as well. In addition, one full lesson related to diagnosis of CS will be demonstrated by the Mentor program during the phase I.