1) With our HTv1.0 Beta release, we completed training trials at the Hospital Sant Pau and Hospital Igualada (Barcelona, Spain) and Hospital Gasthuisberg (Lueven, Belgium). These were completed together with GESEA. The results were excellent.
The study is composed by:
- 42 subjects from Hospital de Sant Pau (20) and Igualada(21). This group executed trials oriented to validate Face Validity.
- 59 subjects from Hospital de Sant Pau (26), Igualada (21) and Leuven Hospital (12) (Belgium). This group executed trials oriented to validate Construct Validity.
Obtained results demonstrate:
- an important improvement of all subjects, independently of their expertise, with well-defined learning curves in all evaluation indices. Obtained results demonstrates the construct validity on 30deg real endoscope management for a uterus visual inspection in realistic conditions for all expertise groups.
- Experts have obtained better results during all trials compared to novices, certifying that the training platform can distinguish subject’s expertise.
- Also results indicate an overall improvement in all measured aspects independently of the subject’s expertise.
- Benefits of training and the validity of the proposed platform is reflected in the learning curves which show noticeable improvements. It is possible, as will be shown in detailed results review, to conclude that there is a noticeable improvement during first 7 to 10 trials and, from trial 20 to 25, the slope of the learning curve is close to be null.
2) We identified the main stakeholders to use, purchase and provide channels for the sales of our product (user-resident doctor, user-Teaching expert Doctor, Purchaser – Hospital Care Directors, Influencer – Scientific societies). We also obtained more contacts with these and generated a survey showing extremely high acceptance and interest in our product. This included information showing a minimum expected price for our product of 1093 Euros and a maximum of 6557 Euros. (These figure are within our expected selling price and allow for good sales margin).
3) During the final 3 months of the study, we finalised our cloud software. Running on Microsoft Azure, the cloud platform has been designed to be end-product agnostic, but for now it runs using HysTrainer module the database is MYSQL. The client-side components of the software system operate within common web browser environments using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) / Transport Layer Security (TLS) cryptographic protocols at a minimum encryption level of 128 bits.
4) We have brainstormed and further developed details of our first serious game.
SMART: Functionality incorporated in EndoTrainer. Based on the evolution of the user, number of trials of each exercise and the obtained scoring, SMART suggests next exercises and theoretical lessons.
EndoTrainer training program is based on serious gamming to promote the training of users. Jointly with Smart functionality, EndoTrainer provides new challenges to be accomplished by each user.
5) We worked together with our industrialisation partner Stimulo, analysed the prototype and defined changes to improve the mechanical industrialisation of the overall product and also revised the construction of our product in order to support a lower cost and faster assembly process. We plan to have a first complete built version of this Industrial release (HTv2.0) during Q2 of 2019.
6) We attended the following Congresses/Fairs:
- November of 2018 we attended the endoscopy congress / fair EndoClubnord in Hamburg, Germany in order to get qualitative market insights. We obtained very useful information regarding the German endoscopy training market as well as contacts to obtain stakeholder information and future marketing actions.
- October of 2018 we attended Healthio fair in Barcelona (Spain) in order to get commercial contact and also insights about simulation training market in heathcare. In the course of the congress SurgiTrainer established commercial contact with the following centers; Institut of Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (GIBT), Campus Docent Sant Joan de Déu.
- October 2018. Surgitrainer has participated in the Congress SEGO in celebrated in Barcelona in October 2018. During this congress, Surgitrainer showed in Ethicon (a J&J company) stand during the congress the passive simulation platform MisTrainer. During the congress Surgitrainer gather interest from some Hospital responsbiles (i.e. Head of Gynaecology & Obstetrics Service in Albacete Hospital). Also Our passive simulation platform MisTrainer was used during the course of
- suturing skills celebrated at the congress.
7) During the course of the feasibility study we have updated our roadmap adding a new specialism (laparoscopy portable trainer = MISTRAINER). This we had been working on in ‘stealth’ mode, but have now added to our roadmap with a commercial launch timed with the Industrialised release of HT in 2019.
8) We launched our second Seed Round that has been conducted by the private investment expert legal consultancy Bellavista Legal and successfully closed by 60,000€ at the end of December.
9) During the feasibility study, we learnt a lot regarding ‘on-the-ground’ realities and risks. Discussions with Hospitals and Doctor´s in different Hospitals have either confirmed some previous potential risks that we identified, or thrown up a new one.
10) Business Plan redefinition: Using direct market interaction we have been able to recalculate Market figures and refined our SAM and SOM whilst updating our Commercialisation Plan based on 3 strategic steps, that will be supported by a designed Multi-Channel Marketing Communication Strategy until 2023.
