Fractured Femur Simulator

Simulution Inc. proposes to work with Melerit Medical AB of Sweden to create a femur fracture simulator to train military and civilian orthopedic surgeons and other medical personnel. The Melerit TraumaVision simulator, a part task, virtual reality simulator, will be modified and already allows surgeons to practice installing internal fixators including screws, pins and hooks into a virtual femur while watching simulated fluoroscopic images. We propose to modify the Melerit TraumaVision simulator to include more functionality and be more realistic. Phase I will demonstrate the feasibility of simulating bleeding and tissue deformation, simulating collisions between instruments and bone, and expanding the simulator to include multiple patient scenarios. The feasibility of including a physical model of a leg containing a femur with many fractures that can be released under computer will be evaluated. The physical model, when developed, will allow physical exam and palpation of pulses. In Phase I a validation assessment of the new functionalities will be done and expanded performance metrics will be defined. The content of an educational CD to be used with the simulator will be outlined. In Phase II a fractured femur simulator incorporating the functionalities developed in Phase I will be prototyped.