Haptics-Optional Surgical Training System (HOSTS)

SimQuest will act as a value-added integrator of the state of the art in technology to create a user-designed prototype of a robust basic open surgical skills simulator (BOSSS) for the training of surgeons and others requiring development for credentialing, and certification in surgical procedures on the human body. SimQuest is working with the leading surgeons and surgical organizations involved in modifying the basic training curriculum for US surgical residency programs. A selection of these surgeons have met with SimQuest's leading technologists and instructional design and validation experts to develop a strategic plan for the rapid-sequence prototyping of a BOSSS product line. This product line will be instituted through funds obtained for this SBIR, which will be carefully fine tuned by the surgeons to optimally fit the developing new curricula. The initial product is designed to be a flexible development platform incorporating many transferable training skills with high content and face validity and highly-relevant embedded metrics. Thereafter, validation will occur prior to further development of this suite for military and civilian purposes. This later initiative will require additional capitalization, which will be further developed during the Phase II SBIR using a business model previously applied with success by SimQuest.