Virtual Heroes Develops 3D Simulations for Heart Surgery Procedures

Advanced Learning Technology Leader Expands Healthcare Expertise  

Research Triangle Park, NC (July 17, 2007) – Virtual Heroes Inc. (VHI), a leader in advanced learning technologies, today announced that it has expanded its reach into the healthcare market with the creation of two instructional 3D simulations for heart surgery procedures. These procedures demonstrated new treatments for atrial fibrillation.  The first animation was an open chest procedure and the second, demonstrated laparoscopic access in a closed chest setting.

“We knew that showing the surgery, as realistically as possible, would be critical to teaching the procedures and much clearer than trying to explain it,” said  Dr. Andy Kiser, Chief of Thoracic Surgery at First Health Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst, NC. “In this case, we believed that a picture (or pictures) would be worth millions of words, to show exactly how the surgery could be performed.”

Virtual Heroes went to great lengths to ensure that the simulation was as realistic as possible. VHI artists took the time to understand the procedure by attending a “surgery” Dr. Kiser performed on a prosthetic heart and chest, and worked closely with surgeons to understand the appropriate terminology and ensure that everything was anatomically and physiologically correct. The end result was a powerful visual aid with realistic 3D views of the front and back of the heart as experienced during actual surgical procedures, complemented by a detailed narrative provided by the surgeon.  Dr. Kiser was so pleased with the first project, that VHI was contracted to do a second simulation featuring a different surgical procedure.

“These tools have strengthened our educational seminars, enabling us to more quickly and effectively help people understand the procedures” explained Kiser. “The Virtual Heroes team has thoroughly impressed us with their learning capacity and enthusiasm for what we were trying to accomplish, as well as their overall level of professionalism, technical expertise and artistic talent.”
                                                                                             
VHI has already gained industry recognition for the development of its HumanSim™ dual-use medical training product platform for military personnel and civilian first responders. HumanSim™ is a software simulation platform that provides enhanced initial, refresher and sustainment medical education and training. It combines the most advanced digital game technology and integrates it with a high-fidelity physiologic-pharmacologic model for unprecedented experiential learning. Virtual Heroes plans to build upon the introduction of HumanSim with development of a complete portfolio of realistic, engaging, medically accurate, professionally-certified simulators suitable for training civilian and military medical personnel.

“These projects were a great opportunity for us to demonstrate our capabilities and add to our knowledge base in the healthcare/medical market,” stated Jerry Heneghan, Virtual Heroes founder and CEO. “It is gratifying to work with people like Dr. Kiser who are dedicated to making a real difference in people’s lives.”

In addition to creating advanced learning technology solutions for healthcare, VHI also creates solutions for federal systems and commercial markets, leveraging sophisticated electronic computer game and graphics technology to address training and education needs. The company has been recognized for its significant achievement and competency in the areas of instructional design, digital engineering, project management, modeling and simulation, courseware development and assessment in providing unprecedented immersive training experiences. 

About Virtual Heroes Inc.
Founded in January 2004, and located in Research Triangle Park, NC, Virtual Heroes Inc. (VHI), the “Advanced Learning Technology Company,” creates collaborative interactive learning solutions for the federal systems, healthcare and commercial markets. Advanced Learning Technologies leverage simulation learning and digital games-based learning paradigms to accelerate learning, increase proficiency and reduce training costs for next generation workforce development.  As a global market leader in this field, VHI applications facilitate highly interactive, self-paced learning and instructor-led, distributed team training on the Virtual Heroes Advanced Learning Technology (A.L.T.) platform using the Unreal® Engine 3 by Epic Games. In both 2005 and 2006, VHI was honored by Military Training and Technology magazine as one of the industry’s Top 100 companies.   Virtual Heroes has expanded its experience and success in the defense sector into the healthcare market with the development of HumanSim™, and into the commercial market with custom solutions. 

For more information about Virtual Heroes, its products and services, please visit www.virtualheroes.com.