MediSim Project Homepage
Simulated Casualties and Medics for Emergency Training
At the Center for Human
Modeling and Simulation, our goal is the development of realistic behavioral
models of human agents interacting both within and with their environment.
Such simulated humans can share a virtual reality with human participants.
Our human scaling, modeling, and animation software is called Jack.
Recently, we have begun to turn our attention inwards, to behavioral models
of human anatomy and physiology, in an effort to ``bridge the gap''. Realistic
deformable models of human anatomy can also be used in connection with
computer vision techniques to enable physicians to readily assess normal
and abnormal heart motion. In connection with a related project, TraumAID,
techniques are being developed to use anatomical models to assist Emergency
Center physicians with the diagnosis and treatment of penetrating injuries.
All these efforts are being applied to an ARPA Biomed project called
MediSim, in collaboration with the Medical College of Pennsylvania,
Sandia National Labs, and the Naval Postgraduate School. This system enables
training emergency medical corpsmen in initial casualty assessment, management,
stabilization, and transport. It utilizes Jack as the simulated casualty
-- with appropriate injuries and physiological behavior responses -- and
as both a medical assistant and the trainee's virtual self or ``avatar''.
The trainee's instructions trigger actions in the medical assistant; those
actions cause changes in the patient's state, and hopefully improve it.
A medic trainee can therefore participate in the [virtual] reality of the
battle by treating [virtual] casualties.
Information
Collaborators
University of Pennsylvania Team
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