Development and validation of synthetic bone and soft tissue analogues for surgical training (Phase I)

我们的团队已经开发出一种合成骨类似物，它模拟了使用骨科器械时骨骼的触感。住院医生可以使用这个培训系统来学习和练习关键的骨科技能。到目前为止，外科培训通常是以师徒模式进行的。然而，物理和虚拟模拟器越来越被视为对住院医生的教育、改善患者安全和更有效的学习至关重要。为了有效，它们必须真实地代表关键功能，并且必须得到验证。 除了比现有模型感觉更像骨骼外，我们的模型还代表了更坚硬的外层皮质层，更柔软的内部松质骨，以及两者之间的过渡。材料属性可以进行调整，以表示弱(骨质疏松)、正常或坚固的骨骼，可以以正常或异常的几何形状进行塑造，并可以在X射线中逼真地看到。三个应用包括：脊柱手术的椎弓根螺钉放置培训，膝关节置换手术培训，以及植入物和器械的生物力学测试。 与我们的技术转移办公室Innovate Calgary合作，我们的团队由工程师、脊柱外科医生/企业家、商学教授/企业家、生物化学家、兽医麻醉学家/教育家和艺术家组成。对使用骨骼模型感兴趣的最终用户包括整形外科公司、学术培训中心和研究人员。 拟议研究的目的是：根据用户反馈改进模型；创建新的骨骼模型；进一步降低制造成本(它们已经很便宜，但通过自动化可能会更便宜)；添加逼真的软组织；创建经过验证的教学模块；以机械方式验证模型并与骨科住院医生验证模型；以及测试业务假设。我们的目标是利用这项研究的结果创建一家剥离公司，使加拿大受益，并提高患者安全。

Our team has developed a synthetic bone analogue that mimics the tactile feel of bone when using orthopaedic instruments. Residents can use this training system to learn and practice key orthopaedic skills. To date, surgical training has usually occurred on patients in a master-apprentice model. However, physical and virtual simulators are increasingly seen as essential to a resident's education, to improve patient safety and for more efficient learning. To be effective, they must realistically represent the key features and must be validated. In addition to feeling more like bone than existing models, our models represent a harder outer cortical layer, softer, inner cancellous bone, and a transition between the two. The material properties can be tuned such that they represent weak (osteoporotic), normal or strong bone, and can be shaped in normal or abnormal geometry, and can be seen realistically in an X-ray. Three applications include: pedicle screw placement training for spinal surgery, knee replacement surgery training, and biomechanical testing of implants and instruments. Collaborating with our technology transfer office, Innovate Calgary, our team consists of engineers, a spinal surgeon/entrepreneur, business professor/entrepreneur, biochemist, veterinary anaesthesiologist/educator and artist. End users interested in using the bone models include orthopaedic companies, academic training centres and researchers. The purpose of the proposed research is to: improve the models based on user feedback; create new bone models; reduce manufacturing costs further (they are already inexpensive, but could be even more so with automation); add realistic soft tissues; create validated teaching modules; validate the models mechanically and with orthopaedic residents; and test business assumptions. Our goal is to use the results of this research to create a spin-off company, benefiting Canada and improving patient safety.