Prevention of Laparoscopic Sugical Skill Attrition
Navy SBIR FY2010.1


Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2010.1
Topic No.: N101-094
Topic Title: Prevention of Laparoscopic Sugical Skill Attrition
Proposal No.: N101-094-1218
Firm: AnthroTronix, Inc.
8737 Colesville Rd, L203
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
Contact: Corinna Lathan
Phone: (301) 495-0770
Web Site: www.atinc.com
Abstract: Clear needs exists for a more comprehensive understanding of the nature of laparoscopic surgical skill acquisition and decay, objective metrics with which to assess these skills over time, and simulation-based training that supports rapid acquisition, longitudinal retention, and targeted retraining for sustainment of these critical and perishable skills. The proposed SBIR effort seeks to develop and validate a skill acquisition/decay model, novel objective metrics, and simulation-based training strategies for the prevention of laparoscopic surgical skills attrition. Objective metrics assessed will include advanced simulator-based metrics and metrics derived from instrument tracking, motion tracking, and vision tracking technologies, as well as advanced cognitive assessment technologies capable of assessing learning and cognitive workload. The ultimate goal of this effort is to integrate the resulting system within standardized military medical training curricula for enhanced training and sustainment of these critical skills.
Benefits: The objective of this SBIR is to provide US military health care providers and their Interagency partners new capabilities to support minimally invasive surgical (MIS) Laparoscopic surgery procedures, reducing the need for extensive retraining and providing new validation methodologies. The proposed research and resulting technology is expected to support rapid acquisition, longitudinal retention, and targeted retraining for sustainment of these critical surgical skills. This research is of particular importance in the military medical domain, as military surgeons often experience extended periods of nonuse of critical surgical skills while on deployment.

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