Interactive education system for teaching patient care

• US 8,419,438 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2011
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: gaumard scientific company, inc
• Original Assignee: gaumard scientific company, inc
• Inventors: Eggert, John S., Eggert, Michael S., Rodriguez, Alberto
• Primary Examiner(s): Fernstrom, Kurt
• Application Number:
  US13/223,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20110311956A1
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 434/262, 434/267, 434/268, 434/272, 434/273, 446/320, 446/330, 446/353
• US Class Current: 434/268
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/28 for medicine
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/281 for pregnancy, birth or obstetrics G09B23/286 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/50 for simulation or modelling of medical disorders
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A newborn simulator for teaching patient care is provided. The newborn simulator includes a body comprising one or more simulated body portions sized to simulate a newborn baby and a head portion movably connected to a portion of the body. A simulated heart is positioned at least partially within the body along with a pair of simulated lungs. The simulator is operable without physical connection to an external device to provide a simulated heart beat and respiratory pattern.

Claims

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

a body sized to simulate a newborn baby;

a simulated heart positioned within the body for providing a simulated heart beat;

simulated lungs positioned within the body for providing a simulated respiratory pattern; and

at least one actuator positioned within a portion of the simulator and operable for controlling at least a portion of the simulated heart and the simulated lungs such that the simulated heart and lungs are operable to provide the simulated heart beat and respiratory pattern without physical connection to a device positioned outside the body.

2. The simulator of claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator includes a compressor.

3. The simulator of claim 2, wherein the compressor is configured to control at least a portion of the simulated lungs.

4. The simulator of claim 2, wherein the compressor is configured to control at least a portion of the simulated heart.

5. The simulator of claim 4, wherein the compressor is connected to a simulated circulatory system.

6. The simulator of claim 5, wherein the compressor is further configured to provide a simulated pulse to the simulated circulatory system.

7. The simulator of claim 6, further comprising a mechanism for simulating cyanosis.

8. The simulator of claim 1, wherein the compressor is configured to control at least a portion of both the simulated heart and the simulated lungs.

9. The simulator of claim 1, wherein the compressor is positioned within a head portion of the body.

10. The simulator of claim 1, further comprising a sound dampening arrangement connected to the actuator to suppress noise generated by the actuator.

11. The simulator of claim 10, wherein the muffler system includes a first layer made of an acoustic barrier material and a second layer made of a mass barrier material.

12. The simulator of claim 1, further comprising an output device for communicating simulator information to an external device.

13. The simulator of claim 12, wherein the output device is configured for wireless communication with a control system.

14. The simulator of claim 13, wherein the newborn simulator is configured to receive commands from the control system wirelessly.

15. The simulator of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a pair of moveable arms.

16. The simulator of claim 15, wherein the pair of arms are configured for multiple types of movement.

17. The simulator of claim 16, wherein the multiple types of movement include movements selected from the group consisting of limp, normal, and convulsions.

18. The simulator of claim 17, wherein the movements are at least partially actuated pneumatically by an arm-movement driver.

19. The simulator of claim 15, wherein a muscle tone of the pair of arms is selectable.

20. The simulator of claim 19, wherein adjustment in the muscle tone of the pair of arms is at least partially actuated pneumatically.