PERC Mentor®

Percutaneous Renal Access Surgical Training Simulator

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Virtual reality percutaneous renal access training simulator...

The PERC Mentor from Simbionix is a unique simulator designed to meet the needs of urology and radiology specialists for training and practice in percutaneous renal access procedures. The PERC Mentor simulates percutaneous access procedures done under real-time fluoroscopy allowing trainees to gain familiarity with tools techniques.

The PERC Mentor will develop skills in:

• Hand-eye co-ordination

• Processing of 2D fluoroscopic radiographic imaging into  3D “mind’s eye” visualisation of anatomies

• Fluoroscopy image manipulation

• Tools and guide wire manipulation

• C-arm manipulation for obtaining ideal access

• Use of needles of varying sizes and lengths

The URO-PERC Mentor from Simbionix is a combined paltform for virtual reality simulation training of endourology and percutaneous access. Either the URO Mentor or PERC Mentor can be purchased separately, but a combined unit offers an exceptional value-for-money training solution.

PERC Mentor analyses all procedural performances and provides complete critical feedback. This can be viewed by trainees as a way of assessing their own performance and learning where they need to improve, and can also be viewed by instructors for evaluation and assessment purposes.

Feedback consists of a comprehensive list of parameters, which vary according to procedure. Many of the parameters provide more information than can be gained from observation alone, or could be perceived in real life. This information is crucial for trainees new and experienced in order to assess factors such as levels of safety and efficiency, and promotes adherence to best-practice techniques.

The data also allows trainees and instructors to monitor improvement over the duration of training.

Additionally, the “virtual instructor” feature provides real-time warnings and instructions. This feature can be turned on or off, but means that at times when an instructor is not able to be present, trainees can still take the opportunity to practice and learn techniques on their own.

performance feedback

PERC Mentor

performance parameters include:

•X-ray exposure (minutes of)

•Total time spent introducing needle to collecting system (minutes)

•Total time spent introducing guide wire to the ureter (minutes)

•Number of attempts to puncture the collecting system

•Hitting an infundibulum (no. of occurrences)

•Hitting the colon (no. of occurrences)

•Hitting the lung (no. of occurrences)

•Hitting a rib (no. of occurrences)

•Hitting a blood vessel (no. of occurrences)

and many more...

The PERC Mentor platform comprises a stylised mannequin that represents the virtual patient’s torso approached from the back. An interchangeable cartridge fitted with life-like epidermis and underlying tissues provide the physical system for percutaneous puncturing. These cartridges can be changed to enable practice on normal or obese virtual patients and also to allow access to the left or right side.

The platform has been designed to be robust, cost-effective and to accommodate ongoing development and the addition of new procedures and patients. The platform can be combined with URO Mentor for increased cost-effectiveness.

PERC Mentor features three key PCN modules for percutaneous renal access:

• Module for PCN basic tasks

• Module for PCN procedures on normal patients

• Module for PCN procedures on obese patients

• Practice renal access basic skills

• Learn skills for avoiding the puncture of internal organs

• Real-time fluoroscopic image processing during procedures

• Visualisation of renal access needles

• Use genuine needles and tools

• Realistic tactile sensations whilst moving through layers

• Actual ribs that you can feel and may be hit during the puncture

• Opportunities to create the ideal access to the proper calyx through a variety of access sites

PERC Mentor comes with a library of virtual patients, all created using real medical data. These patients have case histories, anatomical variations, and different clinical scenarios. Every patient is different on the simulator as is the case in real life. The variation also provides the unique opportunity to practice procedures on rare or difficult anatomies, which would not be possible on non-simulated training.

This library is constantly under development with new patients and cases being regularly added.

basic tasks

practice renal access

full simulation of fluoroscopic procedure

practice tool manipulation

As with other simulators in the Simbionix range, including the URO Mentor which uses the same platform, PERC Mentor allows for instructor login as well as trainee login. Instructors can manage all aspects of training for a single trainee, groups, or a workshop or course.

Trainees can be assigned to groups, and specific, bespoke training programmes can be built for these groups or individuals. With these training programmes, instructors can develop curriculums and determine what skills trainees should learn and in what order. It can even be determined whether trainees are allowed unlimited practice opportunities or must complete a task only a set number of times.

Instructors can compare performances of a trainee over time, or between different trainees in a set group. This will help identify areas of weakness that require additional practice (on either an individual or group level) and allow work to be assigned appropriately.

As instructors can design specific tests for trainees, set how many times they are allowed to practice and view results, PERC Mentor has the unique potential to be used in assessment situations as well as in training situations.

PERC Mentor’s management mode is built around ease of use and as such is designed to be as intuitive and simple to use as possible, thus minimising time taken to implement settings and design tests. All tests, results and settings can also be saved for future use eliminating the need for repetition.

The “Export Data” option also allows instructors to transfer saved information to a remote computer for future use in training sessions or group evaluations. This takes Excel format for easy compatibility.

patient case files

build your own training curriculum

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performance feedback

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complete set of scopes & tools

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multiple skill levels

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teaching aids

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excellent support

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based on real patient data

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wide variety of patients & pathologies

C-Arm control

normal or obese patients

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