Medical physiological simulator including a conductive elastomer layer

• US 8,323,029 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2008
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Christopher C. Toly
• Original Assignee: Christopher C. Toly
• Inventors: Toly, Christopher C.
• Primary Examiner(s): MUSSELMAN, TIMOTHY A
• Application Number:
  US12/272,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20090068627A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,478 Days
• Field of Search: 434262-275, 273/447
• US Class Current: 434/267
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/30 Anatomical models G09B23/281 - G09B23/288 take precedence

Abstract

Conductive elastomeric circuits are used in various simulated physiological structures such as tissues and organs, enabling feedback to be provided indicating whether a simulated task is being performed correctly. For example, a surgical trainer has a simulated human tissue structure made of an elastomeric composition, at least one reinforcing layer of a fibrous material, and at least one flexible electrical circuit. The surgical trainer preferably includes multiple areas for practicing surgical skills, each with evaluation circuits for providing feedback regarding that skill. Conductive elastomers are also incorporated into other types of medical training simulators, to similarly provide feedback. In another embodiment, a simulated organ has a conductive elastomeric circuit in the periphery of the simulated organ, enabling feedback to be provided to evaluate whether a person is properly manipulating the organ in response to a manual applied pressure.

Claims

1. A medical training simulator suitable for medical skills training and evaluation, the medical training model comprising a simulated physiological structure and an evaluation circuit including a conductive elastomer, the evaluation circuit including a first conductive elastomer segment and a second conductive elastomer segment disposed adjacent to each other, without being electrically coupled to each other, the first conductive elastomer segment and the second conductive elastomer segment being part of the simulated physiological structure, said evaluation circuit being configured to provide data related to proper execution of a simulated medical procedure being performed using the simulated physiological structure when the first conductive elastomer segment and the second conductive elastomer segment are placed in physical contact with each other during the simulated medical procedure, thereby completing the evaluation circuit and enabling the evaluation circuit to provide the data related to the proper execution of the simulated medical procedure.

2. The medical training simulator of claim 1, wherein the evaluation circuit is configured to provide additional data in response to at least one of the following conditions:

(a) a specific portion of the simulated physiological structure is manipulated;

(b) a pressure is applied to at least a portion of the simulated physiological structure;

(c) at least a portion of the simulated physiological structure is touched;

(d) a manipulation of at least a portion of the simulated physiological structure causes the evaluation circuit to close;

(e) a manipulation of at least a portion of the simulated physiological structure causes the evaluation circuit to open;

(f) a sensor coupled to the evaluation circuit detects a change in a physical property; and

(g) an instrument is placed in proximity to at least a portion of the simulated physiological structure.

3. The medical training simulator of claim 1, further comprising a light source coupled to the evaluation circuit, such that light emitted by the light source provides an indication of a quality with which the simulated medical procedure has been performed.

4. The medical training simulator of claim 3, wherein the evaluation circuit conveys a potential that triggers activation of the light source.

5. The medical training simulator of claim 1, further comprising a simulated medical device to be used when performing the simulated medical procedure, wherein the simulated medical device includes an inductor, and wherein the evaluation circuit is configured to receive a current induced by the inductor when the simulated medical device is correctly utilized to perform the simulated medical procedure.

6. The medical training simulator of claim 1, further comprising a simulated medical device to be used when performing the simulated medical procedure, wherein the evaluation circuit comprises a capacitance based sensor configured to provide data relating to a position of the simulated medical device relative to the simulated physiological structure during the simulated medical procedure.

7. The medical training simulator of claim 1, wherein the first conductive elastomer segment and the second conductive elastomer segment are separated by a non-conductive elastomer segment, such that the proper execution of the simulated medical procedure requires the removal of the non-conductive elastomer segment and the first conductive elastomer segment and the second conductive elastomer segment to be coupled together to complete the circuit.

8. The medical training simulator of claim 1, wherein the first conductive elastomer segment and the second conductive elastomer segment are separated by a gap, such that the proper execution of the simulated medical procedure requires the at least one of the first conductive elastomer segment and the second conductive elastomer segment to be repositioned and placed in contact with the other of the first conductive elastomer segment and the second conductive elastomer segment to complete the circuit.

9. A method for using a medical training simulator for medical skills training and evaluation, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a medical training simulator comprising a selector switch enabling a user to selectively control an output from the medical training simulator and a simulated physiological structure having a conductive elastomer-based evaluation circuit configured to evaluate a simulated medical procedure;

(b) using the conductive elastomer-based evaluation circuit to monitor a person'"'"'s performance of the simulated medical procedure; and

(c) enabling a user to use the selector switch to selectively direct the evaluation circuit'"'"'s indication of the performance to at least one member selected from a group of members consisting of;

(i) the user, so that the indication is immediately apparent to the user;

(ii) to another party; and

(iii) to an electronic storage location.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the indication produced by the conductive elastomer-based evaluation circuit is used to provide at least one of a visual and an audible feedback to the person during the execution of the simulated medical procedure.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the indication produced by the conductive elastomer-based evaluation circuit is used to determine a rate of learning.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the indication produced by the conductive elastomer-based evaluation circuit is used to determine a physiological response for the medical training simulator to emulate.

13. A method for training medical personnel, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a medical simulator including a simulated physiological structure comprising;

(i) a non-target area representing a portion of the simulated physiological structure that should not be manipulated during the simulated medical procedure, if the simulated medical procedure is performed properly, said portion comprising a conductive elastomer-based evaluation circuit, the evaluation circuit being configured to provide a signal relating to a simulated procedure being performed on the simulated physiological structure, the signal being provided when said portion is improperly accessed during a simulated medical procedure in a manner that would puncture or cut the non-target area, causing an undesired outcome in regard to the non-target area of a real physiological structure if occurring during performance of a corresponding actual medical procedure; and

(ii) a target area that is expected to be manipulated by cutting or puncturing the target area during a simulated medical procedure, if the simulated medical procedure is performed properly, the conductive elastomer-based evaluation circuit not extending into the target area, such that no signal will be provided when the target area is manipulated during the simulated medical procedure;

(b) enabling a trainee to use the medical simulator to execute a simulated medical procedure; and

(c) monitoring the conductive elastomer-based evaluation circuit during the simulated medical procedure to determine if the trainee performs the simulated medical procedure properly, improper performance of the simulated medical procedure in the manner that would cause cutting or puncturing of the non-target area if occurring during the corresponding actual medical procedure being indicated by receipt of the signal from the conductive elastomer-based evaluation circuit during the simulated medical procedure, the signal indicating that the trainee improperly accessed the non-target area of the simulated physiological structure during the simulated medical procedure.

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

(a) a simulated physiological structure;

(b) an evaluation circuit including a conductive elastomer, at least a portion of the conductive elastomer being incorporated into the simulated physiological structure, the conductive elastomer enhancing a realism of the simulated physiological structure, the evaluation circuit producing an indication of the performance of a simulated medical procedure; and

(c) a switch disposed within the simulated physiological structure and incorporated into the evaluation circuit, the switch having a first position in which it is closed and a second position in which it is open, the simulator being configured such that during the proper execution of the simulated medical procedure, the switch moves between the first position and second position, thereby enabling the evaluation circuit to produce the indication, the switch comprising a radiofrequency switch configured to detect a change in an amount of radiofrequency energy to which the switch is exposed during the simulated medical procedure, a change in the amount of radiofrequency energy occurring when the radiofrequency switch is proximal to an implement manipulated by a trainee during the simulated medical procedure, the implement then serving as an antenna to increase the amount of radiofrequency energy to which the switch is exposed, where the position of the switch is a function of the amount of radiofrequency energy detected by the radiofrequency switch.

15. A method for using a medical training simulator for medical skills training and evaluation, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a medical training simulator comprising a selector switch enabling a user to selectively control an output from the medical training simulator, a simulated physiological structure and a conductive elastomer-based evaluation circuit configured to evaluate a simulated medical procedure, a conductive elastomer in the conductive elastomer-based evaluation circuit comprising a conductive powder dispersed in an elastomeric matrix;

(b) using the conductive elastomer-based evaluation circuit to monitor a person'"'"'s performance of the simulated medical procedure; and

(c) enabling a user to use the selector switch to selectively direct the evaluation circuit'"'"'s indication of the performance to at least one member selected from the group of members consisting of;

(i) the user, so that the indication is immediately apparent to the user;

(ii) to another party; and

(iii) to an electronic storage location.

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

(a) a simulated physiological structure;

(b) an evaluation circuit including a conductive elastomer, at least a portion of the evaluation circuit including the conductive elastomer being disposed within the simulated physiological structure, the conductive elastomer enhancing a realism of the simulated physiological structure, the evaluation circuit producing an indication of the performance of a simulated medical procedure; and

(c) a switch that in a first position provides the indication to the trainee during the simulated medical procedure, and in a second position provides the indication to at least one of a proctor and a storage medium, such that in the second position the trainee does not receive the indication during the simulated medical procedure.