Apparatus and method for quantifying fluid delivered to a patient simulator

• US 5,882,207 A
• Filed: 12/17/1996
• Issued: 03/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Lampotang, Samsun, Carovano, Ronald G., Gravenstein, Joachim S., Good, Michael L., van Meurs, Willem L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker, John P.
• Application Number:
  US08/768,143
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 434/262, 434/267, 434/268, 434/272
• US Class Current: 434/268
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1106 to assess neuromuscular blockade, e.g. to estimate depth of anaesthesia
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/003 Detecting lung or respiration noise
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/28 for medicine
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/285 for injections, endoscopy, bronchoscopy, sigmoidscopy, insertion of contraceptive devices or enemas

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for quantifying the amount of fluid administered to a patient simulator during simulated medical surgery. A fluid administered to a manikin and delivered to a reservoir associated with the manikin. The quantity of fluid administered is determined based on the change of weight of the reservoir. A simulated response to the administered fluid can be computed, based on the determined quantity of fluid administered.

Claims

1. An apparatus for quantifying, in real time, the amount of a fluid administered to an integrated patient simulator during simulated medical surgery, said apparatus comprising:

a. a manikin;

b. a reservoir associated with the manikin for containing a fluid administered to the manikin;

c. means for delivering the administered fluid to the reservoir;

d. weighing means for determining an initial weight of the reservoir and a second weight of the reservoir, the second weight of the reservoir including the weight of the administered fluid;

e. means for calculating the difference between the second weight of the reservoir and the initial weight of the reservoir; and

f. programmed computing means for calculating a simulated response to the quantity of the fluid delivered to the reservoir according to a time- and event-based script, a computer model or a combination of a time- and event-based script and a computer model based on the physiological state of the patient simulator.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising identification means for assigning a drug type and a concentration to the fluid administered to the manikin, and wherein the simulated response calculated by the programmed computing means depends on the assigned drug type and concentration.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a scanner for assigning a drug type and a concentration to the fluid administered to the manikin, and wherein the simulated response calculated by the programmed computing means depends on the assigned drug type and concentration.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising at least one fluid delivery implement selected from the group consisting of a syringe and an IV bag, each fluid delivery implement comprising a code readable by said scanner.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for delivering the administered fluid comprises a manifold connecting a first fluid delivery implement and a second fluid delivery implement to the reservoir, said manifold comprising a switch for selectively connecting the reservoir to one of the first and second fluid delivery implements.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising detection means for detecting a change in position of the switch.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for polling said weighing means at known time intervals.

8. A method of quantifying, in real time, the amount of a fluid administered to an integrated patient simulator during simulated medical surgery, comprising the steps of:

a. determining an initial weight of a reservoir associated with a patient simulator;

b. administering fluid to the reservoir;

c. detecting a second weight of the reservoir after the administration of fluid;

d. computing the difference between the second weight of the reservoir and the initial weight of the reservoir; and

e. based on the difference, determining a simulated response to the fluid according to a time- and event-based script, a computer model or a combination of a time- and event-based script and a computer model based on the physiological state of the patient simulator.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising assigning a drug type and a concentration to the fluid administered to the reservoir, and determining the simulated response based on the assigned drug type and concentration.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the fluid is administered from at least one fluid delivery implement, each fluid delivery implement comprising a readable code, and wherein the drug type and concentration are assigned by scanning the readable code.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the fluid is delivered to the reservoir through a manifold connecting a first fluid delivery implement and a second fluid delivery implement to the reservoir, said method further comprising selectively connecting the reservoir to one of the first and second fluid delivery implements by means of a switch.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising detecting a change in position of the switch, and triggering a determination of the initial weight of the reservoir upon detection of the change in position.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the initial weight and the second weight of the reservoir are determined by polling at known time intervals.

14. An integrated patient simulator comprising:

a. a manikin;

b. a reservoir for collecting a quantity of fluid administered to said manikin;

c. a scale for determining a change in weight of the reservoir; and

d. means for quantifying fluid administered to the manikin based on the determined change in weight of the reservoir.

15. The integrated patient simulator of claim 14, further comprising means for simulating a response in the manikin to the fluid administered to the manikin, said response being dependent on the calculated quantity of fluid administered.

16. The integrated patient simulator of claim 15, wherein said response is simulated according to a time-and event-based script, a computer model or a combination of a time- and event-based script and a computer model, based on a simulated physiological state of the patient simulator.

17. The integrated patient simulator of claim 14, further comprising identification means for assigning a drug type and a concentration to the fluid administered to the manikin.

18. The integrated patient simulator of claim 17, further comprising means for simulating a response in the manikin to the fluid administered to the manikin, said response being dependent on the calculated quantity of fluid administered, and the assigned drug type and concentration.

19. The integrated patient simulator of claim 17, wherein said identification means comprises a scanner.

20. The integrated patient simulator of claim 19, further comprising at least one fluid delivery implement selected from the group consisting of a syringe and an IV bag, each fluid delivery implement comprising a code readable by said scanner.

21. The integrated patient simulator of claim 14, further comprising a manifold connecting a first fluid delivery implement and a second fluid delivery implement to the reservoir, said manifold comprising a switch for selectively connecting the reservoir to one of first and second fluid delivery implements.

22. The integrated patient simulator of claim 21, further comprising detection means for detecting a change in position of the switch.

23. The integrated patient simulator of claim 14, further comprising means for polling said scale at known time intervals.