Design, development and validation of general surgery and urology simulators for surgical skills training

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The objective of this project is to investigate new techniques and materials based on thermally cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), a hydrophilic biocompatible polymer with tissue-mimicking mechanical properties, and to increase the complexity of the properties obtained in order to match more complex soft tissue structures and organs. LifeLike BioTissue Inc. (LifeLike) is a London-based startup company that uses this core technology (PVA) to manufacture human soft tissue simulators for surgical training worldwide. They currently offer basic models, such as skin, bowels and different blood vessels, which focus on the acquisition of "basic" surgical skills, but have the need to create more complex models to teach more challenging procedural skills. The proposed project will expand the current PVA technology by investigating improved processing techniques and material composites properties. The knowledge that will be generated will enable the creation of complex multi-component models (attach/adhere multiple components processed separately), enable the control of the embedding/layering of materials to create multiphase tissues/structures, as well as researching other PVA-based composites to better mimic the many other soft tissue-structures found in human organs/tissues. Complex tissue-mimicking prototypes, that look and mechanically respond like real organs, will also be developed by applying the developed materials and processing techniques. This project will significantly improve the complexity of the LifeLike models and open new market opportunities for LifeLike. This project will enable LifeLike to grow and establish itself as a Canadian exporter of lifelike tissue/organ simulators worldwide. The growth of LifeLike will be accompanied by an increase in the number of its staff, both in R&D, manufacturing and sales, thereby creating jobs for Canadian employees.