Simulated human lung for anesthesiology simulation

• US 5,403,192 A
• Filed: 05/10/1993
• Issued: 04/04/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MedSim-Eagle Simulation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cae-Link Corporation
• Inventors: Larrabee, David L., Koosha, Mansour, Kleinwaks, Jeffrey M., Prendergast, William K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Jeffrey A.
• Application Number:
  US08/060,022
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 434/262, 434/265, 434/267, 434/272
• US Class Current: 434/272
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/28 for medicine

Abstract

A compact system that simulates a pair of human lungs. The lungs can be controlled to breathe spontaneously under a computer program, or the lungs can also be ventilated from a standard mechanical ventilator used in anesthesiology. Lung compliance and resistance can be varied during a simulation exercise to simulate various physiological disease conditions. The unit is compact and will fit into the chest cavity of a mannequin. The device is especially useful for the training of anesthesiologists, especially with respect to ventilating patients.

Claims

1. A machine for simulating a human lung for use in a mannequin chest cavity, comprising:

bellows means;

servomotor;

linkage means for connecting said servomotor to said bellows;

housing means for housing said bellows and said servomotor;

air manifold connected to said bellows;

mechanical actuator means connected to said servomotor linkage and said bellows for moving said bellows to a first position and a second position;

first computer program means for providing a physiological model for simulating a human lung;

second computer program means for providing a model for a ventilator used to ventilate patients that are anesthetized;

circuit means connected to each of said computer program means and said servomotor for positioning said servomotor as a function of the computer models; and

CO₂ supply;

mass flow control valve connected to said CO₂ supply and to said bellows; and

input control signal to said mass flow control valve connected to a computer and said mass flow control valve, whereby the CO₂ content of the bellows can be controlled for training purposes.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein said housing means is sized to fit within a human-sized mannequin chest cavity.

3. A machine for simulating a human lung for use in a mannequin chest cavity, comprising:

bellows means;

servomotor;

linkage means for connecting said servomotor to said bellows;

housing means for housing said bellows and said servomotor;

air manifold connected to said bellows;

mechanical actuator means connected to said servomotor linkage and said bellows for moving said bellows to a first position and a second position;

first computer program means for providing a physiological model for simulating a human lung;

second computer program means for providing a model for a ventilator used to ventilate patients that are anesthetized; and

circuit means connected to each of said computer program means and said servomotor for positioning said servomotor as a function of the computer models; and

a mode switch circuit connected to said servomotor control circuit, said mode switch having a first mode for simulating spontaneous breathing and a second mode for simulating a ventilated mode, whereby the servomotor will respond as a function of the mode switch.