Interactive Education System for Teaching Patient Care

• US 20080138779A1
• Filed: 12/07/2007
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: gaumard scientific company, inc
• Original Assignee: gaumard scientific company, inc
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Alberto, Eggert, John S., Eggert, Michael S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,976,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/266
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/281 for pregnancy, birth or obstetrics G09B23/286 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/50 for simulation or modelling of medical disorders

Abstract

A patient simulator for teaching patient care is provided. The simulator includes a patient body comprising one or more simulated body portions and a pair of bladders positioned within the patient body for simulating a patient'"'"'s lungs. A compressor is positioned within the patient body in communication with the bladders for selectively providing an air supply to the bladders to simulate a respiratory pattern. A master module is also positioned within the patient body and configured for communication with an external control system. A respiratory module system is positioned within the patient body and spaced from the master module. The respiratory module system controls the respiratory pattern of the patient simulator by controlling the air supply to and from the bladders. The patient simulator is operable without physical connection to an external device.

Claims

1. A patient simulator for teaching patient care, the simulator comprising:

a patient body comprising one or more simulated body portions;

a pair of bladders positioned within the patient body for simulating a patient'"'"'s lungs;

a compressor positioned within the patient body, the compressor in communication with the bladders for selectively providing an air supply to the bladders to simulate a respiratory pattern;

a master module positioned within the patient body and configured for communication with an external control system;

a respiratory module system positioned within the patient body and spaced from the master module, the respiratory module system controlling the respiratory pattern of the patient simulator by controlling the air supply to and from the bladders;

wherein the patient simulator is operable without physical connection to an external device.

2. The simulator of claim 1, wherein the respiratory module system controls at least one pneumatic valve.

3. The simulator of claim 2, wherein the respiratory module system is in communication with the master module such that the respiratory module system simulates the respiratory pattern having parameters as defined by the external control system.

4. The simulator of claim 3, further comprising at least one lung sound module positioned within the patient body and spaced from the master module, the at least one lung sound module configured to produce lung sounds simulating the sounds of the patient'"'"'s lungs.

5. The simulator of claim 4, wherein the at least one lung sound module is coordinated with respiratory module system such that the lung sounds are coordinated with the parameters of the respiratory pattern defined by the external control system.

6. The simulator of claim 1, further comprising a heart sound module positioned within the patient body and spaced from the master module, the heart sound module configured to produce sounds simulating a patient'"'"'s heart.

7. The simulator of claim 6, further comprising a chest compression module positioned within the patient body and spaced from the master module, the chest compression module for monitoring the amount of pressure imparted during a chest compression.

8. The simulator of claim 7, wherein the compression module is in communication with the master module such that the compression pressure can be communicated to the external control system.

9. The simulator of claim 8, further comprising an intubation module positioned within the patient body and spaced from the master module, the intubation module configured to monitor a depth of an intubation tube positioned within a trachea portion of the patient body.

10. The simulator of claim 9, further comprising a ventilation module positioned within the patient body and spaced from the master module, the ventilation module for monitoring the amount of pressure created by an external ventilation device.

11. The simulator of claim 10, wherein the ventilation module is in communication with the master module such that the ventilation pressure can be communicated to the external control system.

12. A patient simulator for teaching patient care, the simulator comprising:

a patient body simulating at least a portion of a patient'"'"'s anatomy;

a master module positioned within the patient body, the master module configured for communication with an external control system, the master module configured to receive simulation commands from the external control system and relay the simulation commands to a plurality of task modules positioned within the patient body spaced from the master module, wherein each of the plurality of task modules is configured to execute a simulation command relayed from the master module.

13. The simulator of claim 12, wherein the plurality of task modules include a heart sound module for producing sounds simulating the patient'"'"'s heart.

14. The simulator of claim 12, wherein the plurality of task modules include a lung sound module for producing sounds simulating the patient'"'"'s lungs.

15. The simulator of claim 14, wherein the plurality of task modules include a respiratory module for controlling a respiratory pattern of a pair of simulated lungs positioned within the patient body.

16. The simulator of claim 12, wherein the plurality of task modules include a ventilation module for sensing the amount of pressure provided by an external ventilation device a portion of the patient body.

17. The simulator of claim 12, wherein the plurality of task modules include a chest compression module for sensing the amount of pressure imparted during a chest compression on the patient body.

18. The simulator of claim 12, wherein the plurality of task modules include an intubation module for monitoring a depth of an intubation tube positioned within a trachea portion of the patient body.

19. The simulator of claim 12, wherein the plurality of task modules include an eye assembly module for controlling a pair of simulated eyes of the patient body.

20. The simulator of claim 19, wherein the eye assembly module is configured to control pupil dilation and blinking of the pair of simulated eyes.

21. The simulator of claim 12, wherein the plurality of task modules include an ECG module for emitting electrical signals simulating the electrical signals emitted by a patient'"'"'s heart.

22. The simulator of claim 21, wherein the ECG module is connected to a pacer/defib module that allows external pacing and defibrillation.

23. The simulator of claim 12, wherein the plurality of task modules include a delivery mechanism module for controlling the position of a fetal simulator within the patient body.

24. The simulator of claim 12, wherein the plurality of task modules include a rotation module for controlling the rotation of the fetal simulator within the patient body.

25. The simulator of claim 12, wherein the plurality of task modules include a release module for selectively releasing the fetal simulator from engagement with a delivery mechanism of the patient body.