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

该项目的目的是研究基于热交联聚乙烯醇（PVA）的新技术和材料，PVA是一种具有组织模拟机械性能的亲水性生物相容性聚合物，并增加所获得性能的复杂性，以匹配更复杂的软组织结构和器官。LifeLike BioTissue Inc.（LifeLike）是一家总部位于伦敦的初创公司，该公司使用这种核心技术（PVA）制造用于全球手术培训的人体软组织模拟器。他们目前提供基本模型，如皮肤、肠道和不同的血管，这些模型侧重于获得“基本”手术技能，但需要创建更复杂的模型来教授更具挑战性的手术技能。拟议项目将通过研究改进的加工技术和材料复合材料性能来扩大目前的PVA技术。 将生成的知识将能够创建复杂的多组件模型（连接/粘附单独处理的多个组件），能够控制材料的嵌入/分层以创建多相组织/结构，以及研究其他基于PVA的复合材料以更好地模拟人体器官/组织中发现的许多其他软组织结构。复杂的组织模仿原型，外观和机械反应像真实的器官，也将通过应用开发的材料和加工技术开发。 该项目将显著提高LifeLike模型的复杂性，并为LifeLike打开新的市场机会。 该项目将使LifeLike成长并成为加拿大向全球出口逼真组织/器官模拟器的出口商。LifeLike的增长将伴随着其研发、制造和销售员工数量的增加，从而为加拿大员工创造就业机会。

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.