Beating Heart Simulator Using Expandable Members
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current cardiac surgical training models fail to accurately simulate the dynamic anatomy and varied heart rhythms encountered during real surgeries, lacking realism and failing to replicate the complexities of human anatomy, especially in patients with unique conditions such as obesity or scar tissue.
Innovation Solution
A method and system to animate a cadaver heart using expandable members and fluid pathways to recreate a beating heart pattern, allowing for realistic training by simulating normal and abnormal heart rhythms, and accommodating various anatomical variations through adjustable and portable devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a prosthetic model of a beating heart is used to simulate clinical situations, then the exposure and feel of a beating heart during surgery can be duplicated, but the model may not properly represent the variation in anatomy that a physician will encounter when performing an actual procedure
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows adjustment of heart rate, contraction force, and rhythm parameters to simulate different pathological conditions and anatomical variations. The controllable mechanism enables modification of movement characteristics to match diverse patient anatomies while maintaining realistic beating heart simulation
2Reliability
If artificial training models are created to simulate beating heart surgery, then surgical training can be performed on a model, but the cost involved in creating the artificial models is high
Solution Approach 1:
The heart model is divided into controllable segments with independent actuators for different chambers and regions. This modular approach allows the system to achieve high realism through coordinated movement of multiple independent components rather than requiring a completely custom-built expensive model
Solution Approach 2:
The controllable beating heart mechanism can simulate multiple heart conditions, rhythms, and anatomical variations through programmed control, making a single model serve multiple training purposes and reducing the need for multiple specialized models
3Ease of operation
If a simulated model with electrodes is used to form an artificial heart, then the procedure can be performed on the simulated model, but the model lacks the realism of a living beating heart
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses pneumatic or hydraulic actuators to inflate and deflate chambers of the heart model, creating realistic beating motion and tissue deformation that electrical stimulation alone cannot achieve. The fluid pressure-driven mechanism produces more lifelike tissue movement and texture
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides a highly realistic and portable training environment that simulates the full range of cardiac movements, enhancing surgical training by accurately mimicking the anatomy and rhythms of a beating heart, improving skill development for cardiac surgeons.
Implementation Method 1
pressurize and depressurize the first expandable member and the second expandable member respectively to produce a beating pattern in the cadaver heart
Implementation Method 2
coupling the first catheter to a first fluid path, the first fluid path being in fluid communication with a positive pressure source
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, devices and methods for a surgical training tool that drives movement of an organ In order to reproduce a movement of that organ to mimic the conditions of a live surgical procedure.