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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.

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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.