Virtual venepucture..

[LibLabUK]

A virtual reality hand, complete with vital veins, that "feels" could help trainee nurses practise their jabs.
The tactile 3D virtual reality system uses force feedback technology that is usually found in video game controllers, known as haptics.

It could help in learning sensitive venopuncture skills on a variety of hand types, instead of plastic models. The system, developed by UK Haptics, is still at an early stage, but could be used for training nurses next year. Haptics is the term for physical sensors that provide a sense of touch at skin level and force feedback information from muscles and joints.

"This is very much like force feedback in gaming, but it is much more refined," said Gary Todd of UK Haptics.

"You can feel the needle go through the skin; you can put it in the skin and lift it out," he told BBC News Online.

"You can feel the soft skin and muscles and you can scratch the bone if you put it in the knuckle."

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[MuseRider]

1. Wow

we had to practice on each other. We walked around with horrible bruises for a week or two. This is nice.

[LibLabUK]

2. Hehe..

I'm applying to Med school this year, and the thought of practicing venepucture on each other freaks me out.. I've got really bad veins and even experienced anaesthetists have trouble getting a line into me.

[MuseRider]

3. Me too!

My friends were lucky, I was a phlebotomist before nursing school. I have to have my blood drawn every several months because of meds I take and they never get me the first time. Good luck. I wonder how you practice inserting A lines or supra clavicular lines? Yikes!