Intracranial Hematoma/ Burr Hole and Trauma Flap Simulator

Head trauma is an increasingly common occurrence in the battlefield. Improved body armor, and the use of improvised explosive devices by the enemy have shifted the pattern of injury to the extremities, and the head. Forward-based hospitals and rapid medical evacuation have increased the number of wounded warfighters that can be saved, if treated promptly. Surgeons with neurosurgery training are at a premium in the battle theater. One solution is to increase the pool of healthcare professionals with the essential skills. The treatment of intracranial hematoma has been identified as an important skill for head trauma management. We propose to develop a novel hybrid virtual workbench simulator. The simulator combines both haptic and tactile feedback with co-registered 3D stereoscopic visuals. This approach permits open surgical procedures to be simulated with greater fidelity, and at lower cost than previously possible. Our Phase I proposal has two objectives. The first will develop a demonstration prototype to prove the hybrid concept. The second will develop a design document for an open surgery simulator, using intracranial hematoma simulation as the driving problem.