SIMETRI, INC. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: DHA173-002

Description

A joint can exit its socket when it is exposed to an unhealthy level of force or rotation, causing a large amount of pain and loss of functionality in the limb. Joint dislocation can easily be diagnosed by a physical examination: palpitation of the affected joint will usually cause pain and tenderness in the patient, and the dislocated head of the bone can be felt out of its usual position in the joint. When a dislocation occurs, a closed reduction can return the joint to its normal position, preventing damage to the ligaments, tendons, or neurovascular structures associated with the joint.While the injury is common and diagnosis is simple, hands-on training is neither common nor practical given current physical training models, which consists of descriptions/outlines for the different techniques, provided during a lecture or while watching an experienced clinician perform a technique. SIMETRIs solution to this gap is conceived as the Joint Articulation And Reduction Simulator (JAARS), which addresses a market need for a high-fidelity simulator that enables students and practitioners with a risk-free, repeatable, inexpensive training opportunity. JAARS integrates with existing commercial manikins, presents multiple dislocation scenarios, uses embedded sensors to provide feedback, and employs a modular design.