Augmented reality respiratory simulators for combined visual and haptic medical training in low-resource settings

PI: Caitlin Howell (Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, UMaine)

Sector: Biomedical, Biotechnology

Partners: Zephyrus Technology, Denham Ward (Maine Medical Center Research Institute)

Abstract: Simulation-based learning is becoming a newly adopted standard for training medical professionals, immersing students in complex ‘real-life’ scenarios to facilitate clinical knowledge application and hands-on skill development. However, current training simulators are expensive, prohibiting access to those with limited budgets and forcing an end-user compromise between price and realism. In this project, we will begin to address this need by developing a novel low-cost augmented-reality (AR) simulator for remote medical training of pediatric respiratory conditions. Building off a patent-pending, low-cost simulation system developed and undergoing commercialization by Zephyrus Simulation, LLC, we will develop an augmented reality overlay to enhance simulation realism and add new layers of information. The smart phone-compatible AR overlay will consist of a virtual patient with interactive display, in which students can select through a variety of anatomical and physiological modules while dynamically interacting with the patient, providing context for pediatric respiratory pathologies and ‘real-life’ patient scenarios. By leveraging the expertise of bioengineering, virtual reality, spatial learning, nursing, and medical simulation experts, our team will create a new set of affordable, portable and information dense teaching tools accessible to all types of medical trainees, particularly those in low-resource settings.