LYNNTECH INC. — Department of Health and Human Services SBIR Phase I: 300

Description

PROJECT SUMMARYAstudy found thatout ofsurgical residents extended their training beyond residency because theydid not feel adequately trained to practice independentlyMedical program directors identifiedsurgicalprocedures that they considered essential to a surgeon s trainingHoweverof these proceduresaboutof all essential procedureswere found on average to be performed less than once by residents beforecompletion of residencyTraditional forms of surgical trainingsuch as the use of cadavers or medicalmanikinslack the fluid dynamic response to incisionsmay not have identical anatomye gporcineand maybe difficult to procureIn additionopportunities to perform actual surgeries are very limitedMedical schoolshave begun utilizing VR surgery simulation softwaresuch as Touch Surgerywhich can realistically simulatethe human body but lacks the hands on aspect of a real operationVR surgery simulation technology has beenshown to have a transfer effectiveness ratioTERoforin other wordsfor every minute spent using VRtraining an equivalent ofminutes using traditional training was savedDespite these benefitshowevercurrent VR training methods have a serious limitationthe software user must interact through a tablet orjoystick and does not hold the surgical tools or receive tactile feedbackwhich diminishes the skill s transfereffectivenessAs part of a previous research projectLynntech developed an electromechanical device thatuses biomimetic artificial muscle fibers to move muscle damaged fingersWe propose to transform this deviceinto a hand worn peripheral to provide residents with the hand tool interactions needed to realistically simulatea surgeryIn this waythe user will be able to holdrotateand move objects during the simulated surgery andtherefore practice movements needed in an actual surgery without the bulky or restrictive gloves now availableThe goal is to develop the VR Grip to increase the TER through more realistic trainingleading to fewercomplications in actual surgeriesThe following aims will be achieveddevelop the VR Grip glovedemonstrate that it can be tracked as it movesdemonstrate that it can stop finger movements whenencountering virtual objectsanddevelop the complete workstationThe final product is expected to be acomplete workstation that includes a VR headsetthe VR Grip glovea connected computerinterfacesoftwareand a VR simulated environment with pre programmed virtual objects such as scalpelsThis application for an Administrative Supplement is to purchase equipment that will allow Lynntech tosimulate human testing by measuring force responses to finger actuationThis will provide a significantimprovement on measuring the effectiveness of the VR Grip without the need for human testing in Phase IInthis Administrative Supplement applicationwe are requesting monies for equipment and labor to install andsetup PROJECT NARRATIVE Virtual reality is being used to train future surgeons via simulated surgeries at US medical schoolsHoweverthese simulations lack the hand to object interaction of holding actual surgical toolsThe VR Grip glove gives trainees the ability to holdrotateand manipulate virtual tools and interact with the patient s body during a simulated surgery by preventing fingers from moving through virtual objects which will enhance the training s effectiveness and improve the skill transfer rate