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How fast can you stop after the "pop"?

This study explores stress level, difficulty, and tool depth during robot-assisted chest tube insertions. Doctors use chest tubes to drain air and/or blood out of the space around your lungs. This space is surrounded by a membrane, and the doctor's tools can damage your heart and lungs if they go too far past it. Doctors guess tool depth by feeling when the tool has "popped" through this membrane. Sometimes it can be hard to feel the "pop" or to stop right after feeling it, which can lead to accidental organ damage.

We've built a robotic system that beeps when tools reach their target depth, and our goal is to measure how much it helps. We test how soon after the "pop" both experts and complete novices can stop tool insertion in simulated routine and emergency scenarios.

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Participation Requirements

  • Sex:

    Male, Female, Intersex

  • Eligible Ages:

    18 and up

Participation Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:
Participants must:

1) Be adults 18+ years old.
2) Lack any impairments that would make safe insertion of sharp tools into chest simulators difficult or impossible.


Exclusion Criteria:
1) Unable to understand and speak English.
2) Unable to provide informed consent.
3) Unable to follow instructions or perform study tasks.

Study Location

University of Calgary
University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta
Canada

Contact Study Team

Study Sponsored By
University of Calgary
Participants Required
More Information
Study ID: REB16-1835