How a Vancouver company is taking the future of surgical training virtual

The technology offers students immediate audio-tactile feedback on their surgeries

A Vancouver-based company is using virtual reality to teach a new generation of orthopedic surgeons in North America.

Six medical programs around North America — including at the University of British Columbia — will soon add the technology, called Precision OS, to their in-class studies.

“Some of the younger students, some of them have never used a drill before going in,” says Roberto Oliveira, one of the founders of Precision OS,  who believes virtual reality is a way to bridge the gap between theory and real surgery.

“Anything we can do to prepare them and get them as close to the real things as possible.”

The virtual reality technology puts trainees inside the operating room. A headset and handheld sensors use audio and visuals to simulate the environment. When a student reaches for a tool, they can see a computer-generated version of their hand reaching for the tool in a 360-degree world.

The software includes different modules that allow students to make decisions — and mistakes — and learn from them, eventually improving their skills through repetition.

In the hands of the students

At UBC’s medical school, students have already had the chance to get their hands virtually dirty.

Orthopedic surgery resident Ryan Lohre says VR helps him actively participate in what he is learning.

“I get to interact with the patient and I get to actually use the instrumentation, which are very realistic compared to what I’m going to be actually using in the operating room,” says Lohre.

By CBC

Image Credit: Precision OS

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About Peter Coffaro 477 Articles
A growth-driven and strategic executive, Peter Coffaro commands more than 25 years of progressive management success within the medical device industry. Recognized by the World Journal of Orthopedics, Exponential Healthtech, and MedReps.com as one of the top medical sales influencers in the industry; he has 10 years of combined sales management experience and has held positions as a Director, General Manager, Distributor, and Vice President. Peter has worked for some of the top orthopedic companies in the world - Zimmer, DePuy, and Stryker. He is also the founder of OrthoFeed: a popular blog that covers digital orthopedic news and emerging medical technologies. Peter is a three-time Hall of Fame award winner at Johnson and Johnson and has an extensive background in organizational development, business development, sales management, digital marketing, and professional education. Peter holds a B.S. degree in Biology and Chemistry from Northern Illinois University.

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