Validation of a Cranial Neurosurgery Simulator and Assessment of Minimally Invasive Techniques

Project SummarySimulation training is unique in its ability for repetitive practice of a wide variety of scenarios and to reflect on performance without jeopardizing a patient s safetySurgical skills simulators have been successful in bridging gaps of the current training modelhoweverthese simulators fall short of offering a complete operative experienceOperative exposure with live patients still remains the vanguard of hands on clinical trainingUnder supervision and guidancetraining surgeons inherently practice and refine skills on patients during residencyexposing them to unnecessary risksNovel simulation tools are needed to both validate and implement novel surgical techniquesincluding those for minimally invasive cranial neurosurgeryTo enhance the efficiencysafety and comprehensiveness of minimally invasive surgical trainingwe propose to develop an inanimate cranial neurosurgery model utilizing novel concepts inD printing technologyWe have engineered a model to simulate evacuation of a blood clot from the brainand we propose to modify this model to simulate resection of a brain tumorThrough this modelcomprehensive procedural training and competence can be achieved prior to operative exposureWe plan to validate this models by comparing several clinical metrics in experienced surgeons and traineesWe will also validate the physical realism of this model by testing the mechanical and imaging properties relative to human tissue Project NarrativeSimulated Inanimate Models LLC created a comprehensive operative experience for neurosurgery including preoperative planningadvanced technical skills and cognitive knowledgeThis offers a unique platform for both training surgeons and also evaluating novel techniquesThe project will validate the utilization of these models as a trainingevaluationand certification tool