Mimic Technologies, a company that builds the dV-Trainer, a da Vinci surgical robot simulator, recently released a software product to help assess how novice surgeons are using the simulator. The company has been collecting data from experienced surgeons performing various tasks on the simulator, and the MScore application is able to compare a novice user of the dv-Trainer against this data set to provide an overall performance score.
The hope is that with better in-silico training coupled with performance feedback, fewer animals will be sacrificed for this task, and patients will have better skilled surgeons working on them.
From MScore’s brochure:
MScore is utilizing data collected from more than 100 experienced surgeons with over 75 robotic cases completed. Assessment is based on expert averages and standard deviations similar to the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) protocol to facilitate credentialing and privileging.
Educators can now build their own robotic surgery training protocols from more than 40 exercises and assign different curricula to each user. Curricula, including exercises, completion order, and scoring baselines, can be imported and exported to facilitate collaboration and sharing between institutions.
Product brochure: Mscore…
Press release: New MScore unveiled at IMSH Conference…