Simulation-Based Open Surgery Training System (SOSTS)

This proposal is for a PC-based open surgical trainer that will (1) provide training for elements of tasks critical to combat casualty care and (2) provide the scientific basis for a "haptics-on, haptics-off" trainer. Although initial simulator-based training in basic open surgical skills needs to employ haptics, such training may be reinforced with non-haptics-based simulation that may employ replacement feedback (ie, visual or audio). We propose to augment our current HOSTS system for initial training with a haptics-optional component for continued and refresher training. The tasks we will use for the prototype are steps in wound debridement and placement of a tibial pin. These procedures offer important steps in a broad strategic scientific endeavor and will provide technologies of immediate use to the military that will be transportable to other tasks and procedures in both civilian and military settings. This initial Phase I effort will assess the state of the art in available open-source technologies relative to what we have already planned with our ongoing HOSTS effort. In addition, we will assess the specific training requirements and propose metrics for our two chosen scenarios and use these to define the simulation development and training evaluation plans for Phase II.