Cardiothoracic surgery simulators

The Center for Cardiothoracic Simulation at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has developed two simulators which allow for a full operative experience with cardiac surgery and with lung surgery (both open and thoracoscopic) without the use of live animals.
Cardiothoracic surgery simulators

The lung surgery simulator is used for training in video-assisted surgery (VATS).

The lifelike simulators are used in cardiothoracic surgery education and training at the local and national levels. The simulators use organs that have been re-animated using hydraulics, reperfusion, and computer orchestration, and are then placed in a human equivalent model.

Dr. Richard Feins of the UNC Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, is director of CCTS.

For more information about the simulators and to see three videos of the simulators in use, click here.