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Title: MediSim: A Prototype VR System for Training Medical First Responders

Conference ·
OSTI ID:621729

This paper presents a prototype virtual reality (VR) system for training medical first responders. The initial application is to battlefield medicine and focuses on the training of medical corpsmen and other front-line personnel who might be called upon to provide emergency triage on the battlefield. The system is built upon Sandia`s multi-user, distributed VR platform and provides an interactive, immersive simulation capability. The user is represented by an Avatar and is able to manipulate his virtual instruments and carry out medical procedures. A dynamic casualty simulation provides realistic cues to the patient`s condition (e.g. changing blood pressure and pulse) and responds to the actions of the trainee (e.g. a change in the color of a patient`s skin may result from a check of the capillary refill rate). The current casualty simulation is of an injury resulting in a tension pneumothorax. This casualty model was developed by the University of Pennsylvania and integrated into the Sandia MediSim system.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Financial Management and Controller, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
621729
Report Number(s):
SAND-97-2373C; CONF-980321-; ON: DE98000243; TRN: AD-a340 235
Resource Relation:
Conference: Virtual reality annual international symposium, Atlanta, GA (United States), 14-18 Mar 1998; Other Information: PBD: 1997
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English