HEALTHCARE TRAINING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20080293025A1
• Filed: 05/21/2007
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jc3 Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: Johnson County Community College Foundation, Inc.
• Inventors: Carver, Kathy A., Zamierowsi, David S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,251,703 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/262
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/28 for medicine

Abstract

A healthcare simulation system includes a mannequin with active physiological characteristics, a display monitor adapted for displaying physiological parameters and a computer for controlling the mannequin and the monitor. A healthcare simulation method includes the steps of programming the computer with healthcare scenarios, operating active characteristics of the mannequin and dynamically displaying physiological parameters corresponding to patient vital signs.

Claims

1. A healthcare simulation system, which comprises:

a mannequin with simulated physiological characteristics;

a device adapted for providing an output signal corresponding to a simulated physiological condition of said mannequin;

a system computer connected to at least one of said mannequin and said device and adapted for computing values corresponding to simulated physiological characteristics based at least partly on signals corresponding to a simulated physiological condition from said mannequin or said device, said system computer providing an output corresponding to simulated physiological parameters; and

a display monitor connected to at least one of said system computer, said device and said mannequin, said display monitor being adapted for simultaneously displaying data corresponding to multiple simulated physiological parameters.

2. The system according to claim 1, which includes:

said system computer conducting scenarios including simulated physiological mannequin activity and dynamic displays of physiological characteristics on said monitor.

3. The system according to claim 1, which includes:

said display being adapted for displaying multiple sequential values for a physiological parameter, with each said value corresponding to a specific time.

4. The system according to claim 1, which includes:

a mannequin computer with inputs, outputs and memory; and

said mannequin computer being adapted for controlling simulated physiological characteristics of said mannequin.

5. The system according to claim 4 wherein said mannequin simulated physiological characteristics include one or more from the group comprising:

blood pressure, pulse, SpO₂, TCpO₂ and temperature.

6. The system according to claim 4, which includes:

said display device comprising a first display device; and

a second display device connected to said mannequin computer and adapted for displaying data corresponding to simulated physiological characteristics.

7. The system according to claim 1, which includes:

said device comprising a sensor adapted for interfacing with said mannequin and providing an input to said computer, said input corresponding to a simulated physiological characteristic.

8. The system according to claim 7, which includes:

said sensor being adapted for sensing a simulated physiological characteristic chosen from among the group comprising;

blood pressure, pulse, SpO2, TCpO2 and temperature.

9. The system according to claim 1, which includes:

multiple said computers;

multiple said mannequins each associated with a respective computer; and

said computers being linked to each other via a server in a network and/or via the Internet (worldwide web).

10. The system according to claim 1, which includes:

a training scenario loaded on said system computer and including sequential, simulated physiological conditions adapted for output by said mannequin and display on said monitor.

11. The system according to claim 10, which includes:

said training scenario including multiple simulated physiological characteristics variable over the duration of the training scenario.

12. The system according to claim 11, which includes:

said simulated physiological characteristics representing progressive patient condition improvement and/or degradation.

13. The system according to claim 12, which includes:

said simulated physiological conditions changing over variable time periods whereby simulated patient condition improving and degrading trends can be accelerated, decelerated, paused and stopped.

14. The system according to claim 1, which includes:

said monitor including current simulated physiological condition data displays and historical simulated physiological condition data displays corresponding to simulated physiological conditions taken periodically over time.

15. The system according to claim 1, which includes:

equipment for simulating performing a medical procedure on said mannequin; and

said equipment being connected to and providing input signals to said system computer.

16. The system according to claim 1, which includes:

said computer and said mannequin providing dual sources of signals simulating physiological conditions.

17. The system according to claim 16, which includes:

simulated physiological conditions associated with said mannequin being instantaneously controllable by said system computer.

18. The system according to claim 1 wherein said mannequin is passive.

19. The system according to claim 18 wherein said computer comprises a student computer including inputs, memory and a vital sign display device (VSDD).

20. The system according to claim 19, which includes:

an instructor computer including inputs, a memory and a vital sign display device (VSDD); and

said instructor computer being adapted for communicating simulated physiological conditions to said student computer.

21. A portable, noninvasive healthcare simulation system, which comprises:

a mannequin with simulated physiological characteristics;

a sensor adapted for interfacing with said mannequin and providing an output signal corresponding to a simulated physiological characteristic of said mannequin;

a system computer connected to at least one of said mannequin and said sensor and adapted for computing values corresponding to simulated physiological characteristics based at least partly on input from said sensor, said system computer providing an output corresponding to simulated physiological parameters;

a first display monitor connected to at least one of said system computer, said sensor and said mannequin and adapted for simultaneously displaying multiple simulated physiological parameters;

said system computer conducting scenarios including simulated physiological mannequin activity and dynamic displays of simulated physiological characteristics on said monitor;

said display being adapted for displaying multiple sequential values for a physiological parameter, with each said value corresponding to a specific time;

a mannequin computer with inputs, outputs and memory;

said mannequin computer being adapted for controlling simulated physiological characteristics of said mannequin;

said mannequin simulated physiological characteristics including one or more from the group comprising;

blood pressure, pulse, SpO2, TCpO2 and temperature;

a second display monitor connected to said computer and adapted for displaying data corresponding to simulated physiological characteristics;

a training scenario loaded on said computer and including sequential, simulated physiological conditions adapted for output by said system and/or mannequin computers and display on said monitors;

said training scenario including multiple simulated, physiological characteristics variable over the duration of the training scenario;

said simulated physiological characteristics representing progressive patient condition improvements and/or degradation;

said simulated physiological conditions changing over variable time periods whereby simulated patient condition improving and degrading trends can be accelerated, decelerated, paused and stopped; and

said system and mannequin computers providing dual sources of signals simulating physiological conditions.

22. A method of healthcare training, which comprises the steps of;

providing a mannequin adapted for simulating physiological characteristics;

providing a system computer with inputs, outputs and memory;

connecting said computer to said mannequin;

programming said computer with a medical condition scenario including simulated physiological conditions;

displaying simulated physiological conditions associated with said mannequin;

simulating treatment of said mannequin;

updating the physiological conditions associated with the mannequin; and

displaying the updated physiological conditions associated with the mannequin.

23. The method according to claim 22, which includes the additional steps of:

providing a mannequin computer associated with the mannequin;

connecting the system computer to the mannequin computer; and

providing output in the form of simulated physiological conditions from dual sources comprising said system computer and said mannequin computer.

24. The method according to claim 22, which includes the additional steps of:

utilizing a passive mannequin;

simulating treatment of said passive mannequin; and

displaying simulated physiological conditions on a vital signs display device (VSDD) in response to said simulated treatment.

25. The method according to claim 24, which includes the additional steps of:

providing simulated physiological condition trends in said scenario; and

displaying historical simulated physiological condition data corresponding to said trends at timed intervals.

26. The method according to claim 25, which includes the additional steps of:

selecting a time reference from among the group consisting of continuous (real-time), trend display and most recent.

27. The method according to claim 22, which includes the additional steps of:

recording the simulated physiological parameters associated with said scenario;

outputting said simulated physiological parameters associated with said scenario; and

debriefing the student/trainee participating in said scenario.