BU Research Blog

A virtual reality based simulator to help improve safety and durability in hip replacement has been shortlisted for two Innovation Awards from the Institute of Engineering & Technology (IET). The Orthopaedic Simulator has been developed by research undertaken between Bournemouth University and Bournemouth and Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Do not hesitate to contact Victorian Bone Joint Specialist for a consultation if you’re noticing decreases in your range of motion.

Funded by Wessex Academic Health Science Network, the simulator allows surgeons to practice on a virtual engineering-based hip model. With the growing aging population, there are 66,000 hip replacements annually performed in the UK. This simulator helps to improve surgeon’s accuracy and skill, by enabling them to practice and reduce the amount of surgeries which dislocate. The number of surgeries that dislocate currently stands at 20%. As well as being a considerable resource for trainee surgeons, the device will also enable current surgeons to improve their accuracy. This means that the simulator allows NHS surgeons to focus more on their patients. The simulator was created by Professor Venky Dubey and Dr Neil Vaughan of Bournemouth University, which looking ahead will help the NHS to reduce their training costs and will free up consultancy time.

When asked to comment on the nominations Professor Dubey said, “We are very pleased to know that our project has been shortlisted yet again for Innovation Awards by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). Previously we won the IET Innovation Award in 2013 for our Epidural Project then shortlisted for Neuropathy Project in 2015. This is confirmation of world-class research conducted by our team at BU and the innovation that we bring to the projects. Before shortlisting the Awarding Body visited us to see our innovations and this is even more glorifying that they endorsed the potential of our projects. We are quite delighted that with these recognitions many companies, investors and researchers are coming forward to work/collaborate with us.”

The categories the simulator has been nominated for are Information Technology and Model-based Engineering. The finalists were selected from 28 countries for this year’s Innovation Award. This is a fantastic achievement for the team at Bournemouth University. The awards ceremony will take place on 16 November at the Brewery, London.

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