Medical training simulator including contact-less sensors

• US 7,665,995 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2005
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christopher C. Toly
• Original Assignee: Christopher C. Toly
• Inventors: Toly, Christopher C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thai; Xuan M
• Assistant Examiner(s): MUSSELMAN, TIMOTHY A
• Application Number:
  US11/101,776
• Publication Number:
  US 20050181342A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,783 Days
• Field of Search: 434262-275
• US Class Current: 434/262
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/285 for injections, endoscopy, bronchoscopy, sigmoidscopy, insertion of contraceptive devices or enemas
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/30 Anatomical models G09B23/281 - G09B23/288 take precedence

Abstract

A medical training simulator includes contact-less sensors and corresponding detection objects, configured to enable sensor data collected during a training exercise to be used to evaluate the performance of the training exercise. The simulator includes a simulated anatomical structure, at least one contact-less sensor, and at least one detection object. During a training exercise, a spatial relationship between the contact-less sensor and the detection object produces data for evaluating performance of the training exercise. Either the contact-less sensor or the detection object is embedded in the simulated physiological structure, while the other is included in either a support for the simulated physiological structure, or as part of a tool used during the training exercise. Many types of contact-less sensors can be employed, including capacitance sensors, impedance sensors, inductive sensors, and magnetic sensors.

Claims

1. A physiological training and evaluation simulator suitable for training and testing personnel, comprising:

(a) a simulated physiological structure into which a detection target is incorporated; and

(b) a sensor bed configured to support the simulated physiological structure, the sensor bed including at least one contact-less sensor configured to respond to a proximity of the detection target during a training simulation, wherein the detection target is embedded within a portion of the simulated physiological structure that is to be removed during the training simulation, so that when the portion is successfully removed, the at least one contact-less sensor is no longer triggered by the detection target, indicating that the training simulation has been successfully performed with the removal of said portion.

2. The physiological training and evaluation simulator of claim 1, wherein the detection target is embedded in a way so that the detection target is hidden from view during a simulated procedure, such that a user cannot see the detection object while the simulated physiological structure is manipulated during a simulated procedure, the detection target being hidden from view by a portion of the simulated physiological structure disposed proximate the detection object.

3. The physiological training and evaluation simulator of claim 1, wherein the sensor bed is incorporated in a box trainer, and the simulated physiological structure is disposed within a working volume in the box trainer.

4. The physiological training and evaluation simulator of claim 1, wherein the at least one contact-less sensor comprises at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of an inductive sensor, an eddy-current sensor, a capacitance sensor, and an impedance sensor.

5. The physiological training and evaluation simulator of claim 1, wherein the at least one contact-less sensor comprises a plurality of analog contact-less sensors distributed throughout the physiological training and evaluation simulator, so that by monitoring the plurality of analog contact-less sensors, a processor determines a three-dimensional location of the detection target during the training simulation.

6. The physiological training and evaluation simulator of claim 1, wherein the detection target comprises a radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag, and the at least one contact-less sensor comprises an RFID tag reader.

7. A medical training simulator suitable for training and testing personnel, comprising:

(a) a contact-less sensor;

(b) a detection object adapted to trigger the contact-less sensor;

(c) a simulated physiological structure configured to visually and tactilely resemble an anatomical structure; and

(d) a sensor bed configured to support the simulated physiological structure, the detection object being incorporated into one of either the sensor bed or the simulated physiological structure, and the contact-less sensor being incorporated into the other of the sensor bed and the simulated physiological structure, such that the one of the detection object and the contact-less sensor incorporated into the simulated physiological structure is embedded within a portion of the simulated physiological structure that is to be removed during the training simulation, so that when the portion is successfully removed, the contact-less sensor is no longer triggered by the detection target, indicating that the training simulation has been successfully performed with the removal of said portion.

8. The medical training simulator of claim 7, wherein the detection object comprises a radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag, and the contact-less sensor comprises an RFID tag reader.

9. The medical training simulator of claim 8, wherein the RFID tag is embedded in the simulated physiological structure.

10. A method for evaluating a performance of a simulated medical procedure, comprising the steps of:

(a) performing the simulated medical procedure, wherein proper performance of the simulated medical procedure requires removing a portion of a simulated physiological structure from a balance of the simulated physiological structure, such that one of either a contact-less sensor or a detection object is moved relative to the other of the contact-less sensor and the detection object, the contact-less sensor producing sensor data during the simulated medical procedure in response to the detection object and the portion being removed is configured to resemble an anatomical structure;

(b) collecting the sensor data during the performance of the simulated medical procedure, wherein the sensor data are collected without requiring physical contact between the contact-less sensor and the detection object; and

(c) using the sensor data to evaluate the performance of the simulated medical procedure, including the step of determining if the portion of the simulated physiological structure removed contained one of the contact-less sensor and the detection object, and if so, concluding that the simulated medical procedure was performed correctly.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of using the sensor data to evaluate the performance of the simulated medical procedure comprises the step of comparing the sensor data obtained during the simulated medical procedure with sensor data obtained from a baseline procedure, in order to evaluate the performance of the simulated medical procedure.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of collecting sensor data during the performance of the simulated medical procedure comprises the step of collecting the sensor data based on at least one of:

a capacitance, an impedance, a magnetic field, and an inductance.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the detection object comprises a radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag, and the contact-less sensor comprises an RFID tag reader.

14. A physiological training and evaluation simulator suitable for training and testing personnel, comprising a simulated physiological structure including a simulated esophagus, the simulated esophagus including a simulated stricture, the simulated stricture comprising a sensor, the sensor being configured to determine if the simulated structure is properly dilated during a simulated medical procedure.

15. The physiological training and evaluation simulator of claim 14, wherein the simulated stricture further comprises a first fluid chamber, a second fluid chamber, and a valve disposed between the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber, such that when the simulated stricture is properly dilated during the simulated medical procedure, a fluid moves from the first fluid chamber into the second fluid chamber.

16. The physiological training and evaluation simulator of claim 14, wherein the simulated stricture further comprises a detection object, and the sensor comprises a contact-less sensor.

17. A medical trainer for teaching and testing personnel, comprising:

(a) a simulated physiological structure, a portion of the simulated physiological structure being configured to be removed during the performance of a simulated procedure, the simulated physiological structure comprising an elastomer and being configured to simulate an anatomical structure, the simulated physiological structure being disposed within a working volume defined by the physiological training and evaluation simulator;

(b) a detection object; and

(c) a contact-less sensor configured to respond to a proximity of the detection object, one of either the detection object or the contact-less sensor being disposed in the portion of the simulated physiological structure, and the other of the detection object and the contact-less sensor being disposed adjacent to the portion of the simulated physiological structure, such that removal of the portion of the simulated physiological structure during the simulated procedure is detected, because the detection object is no longer detected by the contact-less sensor after the portion of the simulated physiological structure is removed, wherein the contact-less sensor does not require physical contact between the contact-less sensor and the detection object to detect the detection object.

18. The medical trainer of claim 17, wherein the detection object comprises a radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag, and the contact-less sensor comprises an RFID tag reader.