LUNA INNOVATIONS INCORPORATED — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: DHP15-001

Description

The lateral canthotomy and cantholysis (LCC) procedure is required for pre-deployment training at the US Army Center for Pre-Hospital training at Fort Sam Houston as mandated in executive order HQDA 096-09. This order cannot be fully executed, however, since a realistic, hands-on LCC skill development module does not exist prior to animal training. Although the technique is potentially vision-saving, especially if performed early (in the field), it is not being taught except in limited ophthalmology rounds. Luna Innovations proposes to fill the Armys need for an affordable, realistic, reusable LCC training system by developing a low-cost surgical task training unit with reuseable base head unit and replaceable surgical inserts comprising simulated eyelid and canthal tendon that are central to the procedure. The task trainer will be easy to use, readily integrated into current and future training regimens and enable instruction of multiple users per training session. Luna will leverage previous experience developing low cost and realistic simulated hemorrhage training products to bring the LCC tas trainer to market as quickly as possible.