Foxpat Pūrere Whakangungu Pokanga

Press Kit

Unique Properties

Foxpat is a reusable training simulator for knee replacement surgery. Unlike the existing digital simulators, Foxpat is a physical simulation of a patient knee integrated with sensors to feedback on operational performance. The learning platform incorporates all the four stages of Kolb's experiential learning cycle; feel, observe, learn and experiment. The surgeons can use actual tools that are used in the operating room to practice independently without needing an assistant to hold the knee.

Dimensions & Packaging

Width 900 mm x Depth 600mm x Height 400mm.

Tags

Arthroplasty, Knee Replacement, Medical Training, Surgical simulator, Impact hammer

Production Technology

The product consists of polyurethane(PU) bones, 3D scanned knee anatomy, aluminium structural frame and a wireless surgical mallet. The lower leg is made up of ABS plastic, and the upper knee joint is vacuum cast with silicone of shore hardness 0030. The PU bones are vacuum casted for 320gm/cc density to simulate a realistic bone density. The low production volume of 50 pieces per year, allows producing most of the plastic and aluminium parts through CNC milling.

Design Challenge

Orthopedics surgeries involve invasive processes like cutting, milling, and hammering. Making a realistic training model simulating the ergonomics of an actual operation is quite complicated. Secondly, there is not any standardized validation procedure to feedback the surgeons. Several studies have suggested that the hammer impact is a crucial element for positive results. So the impact force is recoded through a wireless surgical mallet to feedback the user on an LED impact scale.

Research

The project was a graduation thesis took place with collaboration between Zimmer Biomet and Delft University of Technology. Oxford Partial Knee Replacement is one of the most popular Knee Replacement techniques from Zimmer Biomet. The research took place in two hospitals in Oxford, where the surgical technique was invented. The outcome of this project was expected to support Oxford training course that takes place across the world to train the novice surgeons on the surgical techniques.

Inspiration

Research shows that it takes about 25 surgeries for novice surgeons to be proficient at knee replacement surgery(Qidong et al., Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research, 9:81). So designing efficient and ergonomic surgical tools is not just enough, but an excellent learning platform is crucial. This idea has led to developing a reusable surgical trainer where surgeons are allowed to make mistakes without harming a patient and gain surgical skills.

Project Duration

The project started in March 2019 in Delft, The Netherlands and finished in August 2019, and was exhibited at Innovation for Health - Design Expo in Rotterdam in February 2020.

Operation Flow

As the product is used for training the novice surgeons, the training sessions take place in a conference hall or a hospital. A training support team that organizes the training or a local technician in the hospital will set up the device. Firstly, the metal frame is clamped down to a suitable table. Secondly, a new pair of Polyurethane bones are inserted into the device and clamped. Lastly, the silicon soft tissue is wrapped around the bones and locked with a Velcro strap.

Image Credits

Image #1, Image #2, Image #3 and Image #4: Keyshot Renders, Nitin Gurram, 2020. Image #5: Photographer and model Nitin Gurram, Foxpat photoshoot, 2020.
Video Credits: Zimmer Biomet, TU Delft, Oxford Knee Group