October 4, 2023By Daniel Irizarry, MD

TacMed Solutions Launches Female Trauma Patient Simulator MATTi

TacMed MATTI Female Manikin

Tactical Medical Solutions (TMS) is introducing a paradigm shift in the medical simulation industry with the launch of a new female healthcare simulation trauma manikin named MATTI . MATTI has been literally designed to “break the mold”, being specifically developed for trauma but can be de-traumatized to be used in nontraumatic clinical settings. Developing realistic manikins for training and procedures has been a central component of modern medical simulation. Surprisingly, the first full body training manikin, “Mrs. Chase”, appeared in 1911, designed by doll maker, Martha Jenkins Chase, for the Hartford Hospital Nurse Training Program. In the late 1960s, the University of Southern California took the next major step in whole-body manikin development with its phenotypically male Sim One, a precursor of today’s high-fidelity human patient simulators. Since then, the predominance of clinical simulation trainers had a male appearance. In 2001, Laerdal launched Sim Man and in 2014, CAE launched Lucina, the first modern female high-fidelity whole-body trainer for maternal fetal clinical simulation. For a large portion of this development, trauma simulation was limited to task trainers, low fidelity manikins and using moulage on actors. In this HealthySimulation.com article written by Daniel Irizarry, MD will review the birth of the modern female patient simulators and introduce MATTi.

The Birth of the Modern Trauma Patient Simulator

Early healthcare manikin development heavily favored simulation to support basic and advanced cardiac life support and hospital-based curricula, largely ignoring trauma. By 2011, several companies had adapted their hospital based high-fidelity manikins to represent trauma seen in the Global War on Terrorism to meet a growing need to support Tactical Combat Casualty Care. These male simulators were a major improvement, but their fragile complexity made them difficult to use in real world combat environments. In 2011, the DoD tested the Multiple Amputee Tourniquet Trainer (MATT), developed with DoD funds, combining movie-magic realism, life-like movement, realistic tourniquet response and durability in a male lower torso. Trauma FX, Inc. (now TacMed Simulation) the makers of MATT, soon developed an equally realistic, durable male upper torso creating a whole-body portable life-like casualty that could breathe, bleed, and physiologically respond to treatment from the field to the trauma bay. These were the precursors of Tactical Medical Solutions current product line used world-wide by militaries today. Today’s TacMed simulators, specifically designed for trauma care, are the optimal tool for supporting Prehospital Trauma Life Support and Advanced Trauma Life Support curriculums with cutting edge realism, durability, and ability to objectively measurable student performance. In recent years, with the advent of active shooter scenarios, “Stop the Bleed” training, Tactical Emergency Casualty Care, and recognition of similarities between civilian and military trauma simulation needs, civilian trainers teaching EMS, prehospital and trauma care have replaced outdated early simulators with TacMed Solutions trainers better suited to their training needs.

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Why We Need Female Trauma Patient Simulators

Several studies have identified disparities between care provided to male and female casualties. In out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, studies show that 45% of men received bystander CPR in public, compared to 39% of women, and that men’s odds of survival were 23% higher than those of women. In the US Military, significant differences were noted in female survival when compared to men on the battlefield.Some have suggested that a contributing factor to this discrepancy is a bias toward modesty when treating women in prehospital settings and differences in anatomy and physiology. Some have suggested that phenotypical differences like breast development may hide wounds or impede treatment. More studies are needed, and given women make up 16% of the total force, the DoD is funding research in both gender disparities in care and advance development of female trauma manikins.

Time for a Paradigm Shift in Manikin Design

A common problem with female trauma manikins today is the limited ability to change injuries on the manikin. The most highly realistic appearing female manikins often lack physiology and are little more than rubber dolls that don’t really provide the fidelity and performance feedback that is the standard in simulation. In higher fidelity options, to get a variety of injuries, one must purchase multiple whole-body manikins with different wound patterns. The DoD elucidated this shortfall when they funded development of the Advanced Modular Manikin, with a concept design that allowed for detachable limbs and greater interoperability with other systems. Tactical Medical Solutions pioneered modular manikins with detachable limbs in the development of its canine trauma simulators, Diesel and Hero. Capitalizing on this, and over 15 years of trauma manikin design and production experience for the toughest customers, TacMed is creating MATTI, the next generation trauma patient simulator, launching initially in female form.

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Introducing the Next Generation of Matti

Formulated with computer-aided design, female trauma patient manikin MATTI will have unprecedented realistic appearance and anatomical accuracy in critical areas that matter such as anatomical landmarks for procedures and patient assessment. Female phenotypical changes are designed to address hidden wounds. Limbs will be easily switched out to vary patient presentations without having to buy another whole-body manikin, which will also simplify repair. Operation will be simple and intuitive, a TacMed Solutions trademark, but advanced enough to support future prolonged care requirements. Redesigned data collection and transmission will allow better network integration and advances in virtual and augmented reality. All this will be supported with the durability for all environments TacMed Simulation is known for. MATTI has been designed specifically for trauma but can be de-traumatized to be used in nontraumatic clinical settings. In short, MATTI will change the paradigm for how high-fidelity manikins are designed and operated.

Optimal trauma response requires integrated knowledge, skills and abilities best practiced before required. Trauma simulation gives students the chance to practice these skills in less taxing and more forgiving environments. Educators should be using the best simulation tools available to prepare their students for the real world, and for trauma, that is a trauma simulator. While today’s male Tactical Medical Solutions trauma simulators are the right tools for teaching these skills, TacMed is proud to continue to lead from the front with the launch of the next generation trauma manikin, MATTI, advancing the field of medical simulation once more.

View the HealthySimulation.com LEARN CE/CME Platform Webinar Medic! The Latest in Trauma Simulator Innovations from TacMed Solutions to learn more!

More About Tactical Medical Solutions (TacMed)

Tactical Medical Solutions explains that products are not designed to pass a structured laboratory test in a controlled environment or barely meet a requirement as a substitute. Rather, they are designed to function when there is no structure when users have minimal supplies and very little time. This also applies to situations when there is no one else there to help, and users may have more than one casualty – while they are trying to save lives and while someone is trying to take theirs. That is the environment of the tactical healthcare provider and that is where TacMed products excel.

Overall, TacMed has remained dedicated to quality equipment that will perform when users need it since 2003. From there, the brand portfolio has grown to include best-in-class products that support the company’s goal of increasing survivability and bringing solutions to new markets.

Learn More About Matti from TacMed Today!

References

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ems, Female High Fidelity Manikin, female manikin, Female simulator, manikin, MATTI, Tactical Medical Female Patient Simulator, trauma, trauma simulation, trauma simulator
ems, Female High Fidelity Manikin, female manikin, Female simulator, manikin, MATTI, Tactical Medical Female Patient Simulator, trauma, trauma simulation, trauma simulator