LUNA INNOVATIONS INCORPORATED — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: DHA173-002

Description

Joint reduction is a key skill and is a core competency for orthopedic surgeons deploying as part of a trauma team.Current training options are limited to classroom instruction on uninjured persons due to lack of a suitable training simulator. The first true reduction performed by medical providers is on actual patients. This method of instruction prevents the trainee from developing the comfort and necessary cognitive and psychomotor skills associated with the reduction. Luna Innovations and its partners at the University of Virginia Center for Applied Biomechanics propose development of a low-cost joint reduction task trainer that will enable more effective training for both military and civilian care givers. This technology will be known as the JoRT platform and will provide realistic anatomy and reduction forces while being fabricated with low-cost materials and production techniques; resulting in realistic, but affordable, training. Lunas experience in developing low cost medical simulation products will allow them to leverage current distribution relationships to ensure this much needed training system reaches the market as soon as possible. Our investigation into the feasibility of a JoRT platform will result in a low-cost, easy to use product that is easily integrated into current training regimes.