Interactive education system for teaching patient care

• US 9,378,659 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2015
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• 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:
  US14/614,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20150154888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 434/267, 434/268, 434/272, 434/273, 446/320, 446/330, 446/353
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

Simulator systems for teaching patient care are provided. In some instances, the simulator system includes a maternal simulator sized and shaped to simulate a pregnant woman, the maternal simulator including a torso, arms, legs, and a head, wherein the torso includes a chamber sized and shaped to receive a fetal simulator and wherein a birthing mechanism is disposed within the chamber for providing rotational and translational movement to the fetal simulator in a birthing simulation; and a fetal simulator sized and shaped to simulate a fetus, the fetal simulator configured to be selectively engaged with the birthing mechanism of the maternal simulator.

Claims

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

a maternal simulator sized and shaped to simulate a pregnant woman, the maternal simulator including a torso, arms, legs, and a head, wherein the torso includes a chamber sized and shaped to receive a fetal simulator and wherein a birthing mechanism is disposed within the chamber for providing rotational and translational movement to the fetal simulator in a birthing simulation; and

a fetal simulator sized and shaped to simulate a fetus, the fetal simulator configured to be selectively engaged with the birthing mechanism of the maternal simulator.

2. The simulator system of claim 1, wherein the maternal simulator includes a dynamic cervix to simulate various stages of dilation.

3. The simulator system of claim 1, wherein the cervix simulates dilation from about 2 cm to about 10 cm.

4. The simulator system of claim 1, wherein the maternal simulator and the fetal simulator are configured to simulate shoulder dystocia.

5. The simulator system of claim 4, further comprising at least one sensor for monitoring a force applied during a shoulder dystocia simulation.

6. The simulator system of claim 1, wherein the maternal simulator and the fetal simulator are configured to simulate a breech delivery.

7. The simulator system of claim 6, further comprising at least one sensor for monitoring a force applied during a breech delivery simulation.

8. The simulator system of claim 1, further comprising a monitor to display fetal vital signs associated with the fetal simulator.

9. The simulator system of claim 8, wherein the simulator system is configured to synchronize a fetal heart rate to contractions of the maternal simulator.

10. The simulator system of claim 9, wherein the maternal simulator is configured to interface with an external fetal heart monitor.

11. The simulator system of claim 10, wherein the maternal simulator is configured to interface with an external contractions monitor.

12. The simulator system of claim 11, wherein the maternal simulator is configured to simulate maternal contractions.

13. The simulator system of claim 12, wherein the maternal simulator includes a variable pressure tummy for simulating the maternal contractions.

14. The simulator system of claim 12, wherein the maternal simulator is configured to simulate maternal contractions of varying intensity and/or varying intervals.

15. The simulator system of claim 1, wherein the maternal simulator includes a simulated respiratory system.

16. The simulator system of claim 1, wherein the maternal simulator includes a simulated circulatory system.

17. The simulator system of claim 1, wherein the maternal simulator includes a simulated nervous system.

18. The simulator system of claim 1, wherein the maternal simulator is operable without physical connection to other devices outside of the maternal simulator.

19. The simulator system of claim 18, wherein the maternal simulator is configured to communicate with other devices wirelessly.

20. The simulator system of claim 18, wherein the maternal simulator includes a rechargeable power source.