Anatomical vaginal model of a female dog

Abstract

The present application relates to an anatomical vaginal model (1) of a female dog that is suitable to perform medical procedures in the context of learning, for example by veterinary students. This anatomical vaginal model is intended to practice performing a plurality of medical procedures, such as vaginal cytology, without using living animals. The anatomical vaginal model (1) comprises a first part comprising a first channel (1.1), a second channel (1.2), a vagina (1.5) and a hole with a cap (1.7), and a second part that is a vulvar cap (1.8). The vagina (1.5) comprises a first pigment in its walls and a fossa clitoridis and the second channel (1.2) comprise a second pigment in its walls which is of a different color from the first pigment.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] "ANATOMICAL VAGINAL MODEL OF A FEMALE DOG"

[0003] Technical field

[0004] This application relates to an anatomical vaginal model of a female dog .

[0005] Background art

[0006] The reproductive tract of the female dog is often af fected by pathological conditions , namely reproductive and urinary disorders . There are diagnostic procedures to assess these disorders , such as urinary collection by catheteri zation and vaginal cytology . The latter method is a cornerstone procedure in veterinary reproduction . In some veterinary teaching institutions , animals are kept in kennels to be used in classes and vaginal cytology and catheteri zation are often performed on these animals . These procedures cause some discomfort to female dogs , especially i f performed when not in heat ( in the case of vaginal cytology) . This discomfort increases i f multiple students repeat the procedure on the same animal , which raises issues in terms of animal wel fare . Moreover, maintaining animals in kennels is expensive and may also raise many wel fare issues .

[0007] The collection of samples for diagnostic purposes , which includes vaginal cytology and catheteri zation, is nowadays considered as "Day One Skills" by most veterinary teaching institutions . To avoid the use of live animals , vaginal cytology and catheteri zation may be taught using videos or a collection of material from cadavers . It is widely recogni zed that teaching and training the collection of material for cytological evaluation reduces the inadequate specimen rate . While in the medical field, simulators have been developed and tested over the last few years , the use of simulators for cytological purposes is still incipient in the veterinary field .

[0008] Simulation models of the canine uterus exist , such as the uterus - estrus model from Vetiqo , which is the uterus model of a female dog to be used in a variety of training options , from vaginoscopical examination by speculum to endoscopic insemination . The model presents a detailed vaginal mucosa with primary and secondary folds , the dorsomedial fold of the vagina and the cervix . It comprises a vulva but has no urethra, meaning that only one channel exists , and has no dyes in each channel . This existing model is not intended for vaginal cytology .

[0009] Another existing resource comprises organ replicas of the female reproductive system, as detailed in US 5518407 A, which describes teaching models of dogs , in the form of organ replicas , each of which is anatomically correct and has the shape , si ze , vascular components and attachments that are found in live organs in various animals . It describes the model of a uterus as a solid or hollow organ model . It has two ovaries attached, two horns and a uterine body and a cervix . Nonetheless , this model does not mention the presence of a vulva, neither the channel of the urethra and the presence of an aqueous dye solution in the channel

[0010] Summary

[0011] The present application relates to an anatomical vaginal model ( 1 ) of a female dog for performing medical procedures comprising : a first part comprising a first channel (1.1) , a second channel (1.2) comprising a urethra (1.2.1) , a fossa clitoridis (1.3) , a vestibule (1.4) , a vagina (1.5) , part of a uterus (1.6) , and a hole with a cap (1.7) in the upper surface of the first part; and a second part that is a vulvar cap (1.8) arranged in one extremity of the first part that comprises vulva lips (1.8.2) and a dorsal fold (1.8.1) ; wherein the vagina (1.5) comprises a first pigment in its walls; and the fossa clitoridis (1.3) and the second channel (1.2) comprise a second pigment in its walls which is of a different color from the first pigment.

[0012] In one embodiment the first pigment and the second pigment are colored aqueous dye solutions made from a mixture of a petroleum jelly-based product with a colored food grade pigment .

[0013] In one embodiment the colored food grade pigment is selected from Red E122 or Blue E133.

[0014] In one embodiment the first part is made of an elastomer thermoplastic or any suitable polymeric material .

[0015] In one embodiment the second part is made in moldable silicone, a thermoplastic material or any suitable polymer.

[0016] In one embodiment the medical procedures are vaginal cytology or catheterization. General description

[0017] The present invention is an anatomical vaginal model of a female dog .

[0018] The technical problem that the present invention aims to solve is : "How to improve teaching practices in veterinary sciences , namely performing medical procedures such as vaginal cytology and catheteri zation on the female dog, without using live animals ?" .

[0019] The currently existing solutions do not allow teaching and practicing medical procedures such as a vaginal cytology and catheteri zation without using live animals . In contrast , this can be accomplished by using the present anatomical model . Hence , the present invention contains di f ferent technical characteristics in comparison with the existing solutions in the market , particularly in comparison with those mentioned in the Background Art section of this application .

[0020] The present invention allows to achieve the distinctive technical ef fect of an improved teaching and training procedure in performing medical procedures in the female dog . The development of such model for medical procedures , such as a vaginal cytology, on the female dog required signi ficant studies of female dog anatomy and design skills , and consequently would not be obvious for a person skilled in the art to obtain such model of the female dog .

[0021] The present invention is suitable for use as a teaching aid, thus avoiding the use of live animals ( institutional animals kept in kennels for teaching purposes ) . This has marked advantages in terms of animal-wel fare ( since less animals are needed) and economi zes resources , because the model i s much less expensive than keeping animals in kennels (which costs between 4 . 000 and 6 . 000 € per year and per animal ) .

[0022] Brief description of drawings

[0023] For easier understanding of this application, figures are attached in the annex that represent the preferred forms of implementation which nevertheless are not intended to limit the technique disclosed herein .

[0024] Figure 1 shows a lateral view of the anatomical vaginal model ( 1 ) •

[0025] Figure 2 shows a front view of the vulvar cap ( 1 . 8 ) .

[0026] Figure 3 shows a lateral cross section of the anatomical vaginal model ( 1 ) .

[0027] Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the anatomical vaginal model ( 1 ) .

[0028] Figure 5 shows a bottom view of the anatomical vaginal model ( 1 ) •

[0029] Figure 6 a to c shows the results of questionnaires answered by students who used the solution presented in this application .

[0030] Detailed description of embodiments

[0031] Now, preferred embodiments of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the annexed drawings. However, they are not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0032] The present invention is an anatomical vaginal model (1) of a female dog which is a teaching aid suitable to learn how to perform medical procedures, such as vaginal cytology and catheterization, in a female dog. This invention is suitable to be used by veterinary students to practice these procedures without using living animals.

[0033] The presently disclosed anatomical vaginal model (1) has a substantially similar anatomical arrangement to the reproductive system of a female dog in order to simulate the anatomical shape of the same and provide an experience to the users as close to the living system as possible.

[0034] The interior of the anatomical vaginal model (1) replicates some features of the inside of a female dog reproductive system comprising all the contours present in the living animal. The anatomical vaginal model (1) also replicates the features on the exterior of a female dog reproductive system.

[0035] Thus, the anatomical vaginal model (1) herein disclosed is anatomically correct and has a similar shape, size, and comprises the same features of its living counterpart.

[0036] As shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, the anatomical vaginal model (1) comprises a first part with a first channel (1.1) , a second channel (1.2) , a fossa clitoridis (1.3) , a vestibule (1.4) , a vagina (1.5) , part of a uterus (cervix) (1.6) , a hole with a cap (1.7) and a second part that is a vulvar cap (1.8) . Figure 5 shows a bottom view of the anatomical vaginal model

[0037] (1) showing the second channel (1.2) .

[0038] As shown in the cross section of the anatomical vaginal model (1) in Figure 3, the second channel (1.2) comprises a urethra (1.2.1) . This channel can be used to practice urinary catheterization .

[0039] The first part further comprises a hole with a cap (1.7) in the upper surface to allow access to the interior of the anatomical vaginal model (1) to replenish the pigments contained therein.

[0040] The vagina (1.5) comprises a first pigment in its walls, which is a colored aqueous dye solution, that allows to check if the medical procedure was performed in the correct area.

[0041] In one embodiment the first pigment is a mixture of a petroleum jelly-based product with a colored food grade pigment, for example Red E122 or Blue E133.

[0042] In one embodiment, the petroleum jelly-based product is Vaseline, for example.

[0043] The fossa clitoridis (1.3) and the second channel (1.2) comprise a second pigment in its walls, which is also a colored aqueous dye solution, that has a different color from the first pigment. In one embodiment, the second pigment is also a mixture of a petroleum jelly-based product with a colored food grade pigment of a different colour than the first pigment. For example, Red E122 or Blue E133. In one embodiment, the first part is made of an elastomer thermoplastic or any suitable polymeric material. The first part can be produced by 3D printing or by using molds.

[0044] Figure 2 shows a front view of the second part, the vulvar cap (1.8) , which is arranged in one extremity of the first part. The vulvar cap (1.8) comprises vulva lips (1.8.2) and a dorsal fold (1.8.1) , which in an embodiment can be produced in moldable silicone, a thermoplastic material or any suitable polymer, that has a soft consistency.

[0045] In one embodiment the vulva lips (1.8.2) have measurements ranging from: 20 mm for the dorsal fold and 45 mm of long axis, with 40 mm and 20 mm of small axis (measurements for a large sized female dog, i.e., large breed) to 12 mm of dorsal fold and 39 mm of long axis and 23 mm and 20 mm of small axis (measurements for a small female dog, i.e., small breed) .

[0046] The presently disclosed anatomical vaginal model (1) has been evaluated by 175 veterinary students and 99% of the students considered the model as either essential or very useful, as shown in Figure 6. This data was obtained from questionnaires over the need of repetition for learning vaginal cytology, 175 students answered from 4 veterinary universities; questionnaires were filled after using the model presented herein in a single class, the questions were as follows:

[0047] Figure 6a) How many times are needed to learn the vaginal cytology procedure?

[0048] Figure 6b) Repeating the procedure has a significant impact on learning? Figure 6b ) How useful is the simulation for learning vaginal cytology?

[0049] Students were highly motivated whilst using the present anatomical vaginal model ( 1 ) , 77 % highly motivated, and considered that the model was able to recreate the real scenario . When students that have learned in a real animal were compared with those that have learned with the model , no signi ficant di f ferences existed in their ability to perform a vaginal cytology in a real scenario .

[0050] This description is , of course , not in any way restricted to the forms of implementation presented herein and any person with an average knowledge of the area can provide many possibilities for modi fication thereof without departing from the general idea as defined by the claims . The preferred forms of implementation described above can obviously be combined with each other . The following claims further define the preferred forms of implementation .

Claims

CLAIMS1. An anatomical vaginal model (1) of a female dog for performing medical procedures comprising: a first part comprising a first channel (1.1) , a second channel (1.2) comprising a urethra (1.2.1) , a fossa clitoridis (1.3) , a vestibule (1.4) , a vagina (1.5) , part of a uterus (1.6) , and a hole with a cap (1.7) in the upper surface of the first part; and a second part that is a vulvar cap (1.8) arranged in one extremity of the first part that comprises vulva lips (1.8.2) and a dorsal fold (1.8.1) ; wherein the vagina (1.5) comprises a first pigment in its walls; and the fossa clitoridis (1.3) and the second channel (1.2) comprise a second pigment in its walls which is of a different color from the first pigment.

2. The anatomical vaginal model (1) according to the previous claim, wherein the first pigment and the second pigment are colored aqueous dye solutions made from a mixture of a petroleum jelly-based product with a colored food grade pigment .

3. The anatomical vaginal model (1) according to the previous claim, wherein the colored food grade pigment is selected from Red E122 or Blue E133.

4. The anatomical vaginal model (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the first part is made of an elastomer thermoplastic or any suitable polymeric material .

5. The anatomical vaginal model (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the second part is made in moldable silicone, a thermoplastic material or any suitable polymer .

6. Use of the anatomical vaginal model (1) described in any of the previous claims for vaginal cytology or catheterization .

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