iVCL (Virtual Cath Lab):
- is a c-arm simulator and anatomical viewer designed to teach all medical staff and students hand-to-eye co-ordination skills and anatomical positioning concepts in a radiation free environment.
- winner of an NHS Innovations award, 2009
- CPD accredited by the UK College of Radiographers as per following statement from the College:
“A virtual learning system to support the development of fluoroscopy skills. May support outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 14 of CPD Now.”
1 - Practical skills
2 - Knowledge base
3 - Work safely
4 - Legal/ethical frameworks
6 - Manage knowledge/information
7 - High-quality healthcare/education services
8 - Patient centred care and choice
14 - Support and guidance for learners
What is the problem?
- Medical procedures involving diagnostic x-rays are by far the most significant source of human-made radiation exposure to the general public.
- Staff training to perform these procedures can currently only train using real equipment and on real patients, exposing both themselves and the patient to unnecessary radiation.
The iVCL:
- transfers the learning curve associated with controlling fluoroscopic equipment to a virtual environment.
- is a fully interactive computer simulation of a medical c-arm, allowing users to train to use equipment that delivers ionising radiation in a completely safe yet realistic way.
- through the use of 3D anatomical models, helps staff who are already trained in fluoroscopy to fine tune their anatomical knowledge by e.g. experimenting with new radiographic projections in a completely safe and radiation free environment.
- delivers a safe, realistic and radiation free learning environment which is accessible to all, for free & anywhere.