

Objective
Develop a material-based solution which can demonstrate prolonged casualty care (PCC), nursing care, and trauma scenarios while dynamically changing the patient state based on the care being provided.
Description
Human patient simulators leverage unreliable mechanical air bladders, anatomically inaccurate synthetic tissues (Hannay et. all, 2022; Lee et. all, 2021; Norfleet et. all, 2015), and often do not accurately show a patient progression or regression during treatment.
To increase training immersion, realism, and soldier buy-in, synthetic tissue materials must increase in fidelity and be capable of emulating real medical complications. These signs and symptoms should change in appearance over time while providing learners with the correct sensory cues to indicate a need for treatment. This project targets five material response areas of interest based on common medical symptoms.
The synthetic tissue materials should demonstrate treatment proficiency feedback, i.e. the trainee performed the intervention correctly and the tissue shows improvement, or the trainee performed incorrectly, and the patient state worsens. Having synthetic tissue materials that demonstrate the cues required for intervention, look and behave realistically, respond appropriately to treatment, and dynamically change over time will improve training immersion and soldier buy-in while also enabling new PCC training scenarios.
The five targeted material response areas are:
Phase I
Begin feasibility of topic of the synthetic materials capable of dynamic change over time. At the culmination of Phase I, the proposer will demonstrate the functional prototype with the following requirements:
Phase II
Briefly describe expectations and minimum required deliverable, culminating in a well-defined prototype (a technology, product, or service) meeting the requirements of the topic and can be made commercially viable. (2 Yrs, $1.1M effort)
Phase II will build upon the initial findings and prototype from Phase I. This iteration will provide at least one additional capability from the previous material. This phase will also consist of a validation study on the effectiveness of the prototype as a training tool. A comparative analysis of the prototype against the current method of teaching is required.
Phase III
The target transition audience for the end-state will include the combat medic schoolhouses and advanced individual training locations (Camp Bullis), civilian and military nursing providers, and even some lower level surgical training providers.
The expected training experience will likely be that of a battalion aid station, Role 2, or even Role 3 depending on the performers wound selection. As part of the transition and commercialization process, Phase III should include building out relevant additional wounds and surrounding tissues based on the feedback and results found in Phase II.
Submission Information
For more information, and to submit your full proposal package, visit the DSIP Portal.
SBIR|STTR Help Desk: usarmy.sbirsttr@army.mil
References:
Objective
Develop a material-based solution which can demonstrate prolonged casualty care (PCC), nursing care, and trauma scenarios while dynamically changing the patient state based on the care being provided.
Description
Human patient simulators leverage unreliable mechanical air bladders, anatomically inaccurate synthetic tissues (Hannay et. all, 2022; Lee et. all, 2021; Norfleet et. all, 2015), and often do not accurately show a patient progression or regression during treatment.
To increase training immersion, realism, and soldier buy-in, synthetic tissue materials must increase in fidelity and be capable of emulating real medical complications. These signs and symptoms should change in appearance over time while providing learners with the correct sensory cues to indicate a need for treatment. This project targets five material response areas of interest based on common medical symptoms.
The synthetic tissue materials should demonstrate treatment proficiency feedback, i.e. the trainee performed the intervention correctly and the tissue shows improvement, or the trainee performed incorrectly, and the patient state worsens. Having synthetic tissue materials that demonstrate the cues required for intervention, look and behave realistically, respond appropriately to treatment, and dynamically change over time will improve training immersion and soldier buy-in while also enabling new PCC training scenarios.
The five targeted material response areas are:
Phase I
Begin feasibility of topic of the synthetic materials capable of dynamic change over time. At the culmination of Phase I, the proposer will demonstrate the functional prototype with the following requirements:
Phase II
Briefly describe expectations and minimum required deliverable, culminating in a well-defined prototype (a technology, product, or service) meeting the requirements of the topic and can be made commercially viable. (2 Yrs, $1.1M effort)
Phase II will build upon the initial findings and prototype from Phase I. This iteration will provide at least one additional capability from the previous material. This phase will also consist of a validation study on the effectiveness of the prototype as a training tool. A comparative analysis of the prototype against the current method of teaching is required.
Phase III
The target transition audience for the end-state will include the combat medic schoolhouses and advanced individual training locations (Camp Bullis), civilian and military nursing providers, and even some lower level surgical training providers.
The expected training experience will likely be that of a battalion aid station, Role 2, or even Role 3 depending on the performers wound selection. As part of the transition and commercialization process, Phase III should include building out relevant additional wounds and surrounding tissues based on the feedback and results found in Phase II.
Submission Information
For more information, and to submit your full proposal package, visit the DSIP Portal.
SBIR|STTR Help Desk: usarmy.sbirsttr@army.mil
References: