Method, system, and apparatus for medical device training

• US 6,535,714 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2001
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: University of Florida (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of Florida (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Melker, Richard J., Van Oostrom, Johannes H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Hieu T.
• Application Number:
  US09/897,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20020001794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 434/350, 434/262, 434/265, 434/272, 434/118, 434/201, 434/365, 434/429, 434/433
• US Class Current: 434/350
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/02 of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student

Abstract

A method, system, and apparatus for training users in understanding and use of numerous medical devices, including providing for documentation of competency during the training exercise is provided. Preferably, the invention will utilize an “interface module” (e.g., hand-held device, palm size, laptop, desktop PC, microcontroller, expansion module on a palm/hand-held device) to provide the training interface between the user and the device.

Claims

1. A training interface apparatus for teaching proper use of a variety of devices, comprising:

(a) a storage device;

(b) a processor connected to the storage device;

(c) a computer program under control of the processor that provides, for each of a plurality of devices, a corresponding interactive training session to a user, wherein the interactive training session resides on the storage device of said training interface apparatus and is automatically launched when a device is connected to the training interface apparatus through a communications interface, and wherein the interactive training session comprises at least one lesson related to the operation of the device and tracks progress of a user and adjusts the lessons based on said progress;

(d) a user interface under control of the processor for receiving input from the user, wherein the user interface detects and interprets inputs made into the device through the communications interface operatively connected between the device and the training interface apparatus; and

(e) a display unit operable to display an output corresponding to the interactive training session and a simulated image that resembles the device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the interactive training session is loaded onto a storage device of said training apparatus from an external communications network.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the interactive training session is loaded onto a storage device of said training apparatus from at least one of said plurality of devices.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the interactive training session is loaded onto a storage device of said training apparatus from a removable storage media.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the simulated image comprises graphical representations of the controls.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the graphical representations of the controls are actuated by the user interface.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the simulated image comprises representations of the output of the device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the user interface further comprises an external input device interfaced with the training interface apparatus.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the user interface further comprises an integrated input device of the training interface apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the interactive training session comprises a plurality of lessons for medical device training, wherein at least one lesson is selected from:

(a) a lesson on applicable physiology related to the device;

(b) a lesson on instrument physics related to the device;

(c) a lesson on operation of the device, including inputs and outputs;

(d) a lesson on pathophysiology that describes the use of the device with patients in different disease states;

or

(e) a lesson on patient management exercises which manages aspects of a simulated patient.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the interactive training session comprises a plurality of lessons for medical device training comprising:

(a) a lesson on applicable physiology related to the device;

(b) a lesson on instrument physics related to the device; and

(c) a lesson on operation of the device, including inputs and outputs.

12. An apparatus for teaching proper use of a variety of devices, comprising

a storage device;

and

a processor connected to the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to perform the steps of;

(a) identifying a device interfaced with a training interface apparatus;

(b) loading training software specific to the identified device on said apparatus;

(c) running the training software, wherein the training software comprises an interactive training session comprising at least one lesson related to operation of the device;

(d) receiving inputs representing operation of controls of the identified device from a communications interface operatively connected between the device and the training interface apparatus for detecting inputs made into the device itself;

(e) displaying an output corresponding to the interactive training session and a simulated image that resembles the device;

(f) tracking progress of the operation of controls; and

(g) adjusting the training software based on said progress.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the interactive training session comprises a plurality of lessons for medical device training, wherein at least one lesson is selected from:

(a) a lesson on applicable physiology related to the device;

(b) a lesson on instrument physics related to the device;

(c) a lesson on operation of the device, including inputs and outputs;

(d) a lesson on pathophysiology that describes the use of the device with patients in different disease states;

or

(e) a lesson on patient management exercises which manages aspects of a simulated patient.

14. A computer readable media containing program instructions for teaching proper use of a variety of devices, said computer readable media comprising:

first computer program code for identifying a device connected to a computer system;

second computer program code for loading training software specific to the identified device on said computer system;

third computer program code for running the training software, wherein the training software comprises an interactive training session comprising at least one lesson related to operation of the device;

fourth computer program code for receiving inputs representing operation of controls of the identified device from a communications interface operatively connected between the device and the training interface apparatus for detecting inputs made into the device itself,

fifth computer program code for displaying an output corresponding to the interactive training session and a simulated image that resembles the device;

sixth computer program code for tracking progress of the operation of controls; and

seventh computer program code for adjusting the training software based on said progress.

15. The computer readable media of claim 14 wherein the interactive training session comprises a plurality of lessons for medical device training, wherein at least one lesson is selected from:

(a) a lesson on applicable physiologyrelated to the device;

(b) a lesson on instrument physics related to the device;

(c) a lesson on operation of the device, including inputs and outputs;

(d) a lesson on pathophysiology that describes the use of the device with patients in different disease states;

or

(e) a lesson on patient management exercises which manages aspects of a simulated patient.

16. A method for teaching proper use of a variety of devices comprising:

(a) identifying a device interfaced with a training interface apparatus, said training apparatus comprising a processor, a storage unit, a display, and at least one communications interface;

(b) loading training software specific to the identified device on said apparatus;

(c) running the training software wherein the training software comprises an interactive training session comprising at least one lesson related to operation of the device;

(d) receiving inputs representing operation of controls of the identified device from a communications interface operatively connected between the device and the training interface apparatus for detecting inputs made into the device itself;

(e) displaying an output corresponding to the interactive training session and a simulated image that resembles the device;

(f) tracking progress of the operation of controls; and

(g) adjusting the interactive training session based on said progress.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the interactive training session comprises a plurality of lessons for medical device training, wherein at least one lesson is selected from:

(a) a lesson on applicable physiology related to the device;

(b) a lesson on instrument physics related to the device;

(c) a lesson on operation of the device, including inputs and outputs;

(d) a lesson on pathophysiology that describes the use of the device with patients in different disease states;

or

(e) a lesson on patient management exercises which manages aspects of a simulated patient.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the interactive training session comprises a plurality of lessons for medical device training comprising:

(a) a lesson on applicable physiologyrelated to the device;

(b) a lesson on instrument physics related to the device; and

(c) a lesson on operation of the device, including inputs and outputs.

19. A computer program product comprising a computer storage medium having a computer program therein for teaching proper use of a variety of devices, said computer program performing the steps of:

(a) identifying a device interfaced with a training interface apparatus;

(b) loading training software specific to the identified device on said apparatus;

(c) running the training software, wherein the training software comprises an interactive training session comprising at least one lesson related to operation of the device;

(d) receiving inputs representing operation of controls of the identified device from a communications interface operatively connected between the device and the training interface apparatus for detecting inputs made into the device itself;

(e) displaying an output corresponding to the interactive training session and a simulated image that resembles the device;

(f) tracking progress of the operation of controls; and

(g) adjusting the training software based on said progress.

20. The computer program product of claim 19 wherein the interactive training session comprises a plurality of lessons for medical device training, wherein at least one lesson is selected from:

(a) a lesson on applicable physiologyrelated to the device;

(b) a lesson on instrument physics related to the device;

(c) a lesson on operation of the device, including inputs and outputs;

(d) a lesson on pathophysiology that describes the use of the device with patients in different disease states;

or

(e) a lesson on patient management exercises which manages aspects of a simulated patient.