Hyoid-Motion Airway Simulator for Direct Laryngoscopy Training
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical training simulators for laryngoscopy lack realism in simulating the dynamic interactions between the airway and other anatomical structures, particularly the axial skeleton, failing to reproduce the mechanical dynamics observed during laryngoscopy procedures, which hinders the adoption of head elevation techniques.
Innovation Solution
A training simulator that includes a somatic skeleton with a skull and spine portion, coupled to an airway skeleton, featuring ligaments that mimic the movement of the hyoid bone relative to the skull and spine, allowing for realistic simulation of hyoid bone movement and improved glottis exposure during laryngoscopy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional airway simulators are used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the mechanical dynamics and realism of anatomical interactions are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The airway simulator is divided into multiple separable anatomical components including the hyoid bone, epiglottis, tongue, and surrounding soft tissues, each independently constructed and assembled. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for realistic mechanical behavior while maintaining overall system manageability and manufacturing feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The simulator incorporates dynamic elements that allow anatomical structures to move and interact realistically during laryngoscopy procedures. The hyoid bone, epiglottis, and tongue are designed with appropriate degrees of freedom and mechanical properties to reproduce natural movements and responses to laryngoscope insertion and manipulation.
2Ease of manufacture
If anatomical elements are molded into a single structure, then manufacturing is easier, but dynamic interactions between individual elements cannot be simulated
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than molding all anatomical elements as a single piece, the simulator uses separate components for the hyoid bone, epiglottis, tongue, and surrounding tissues. These segmented elements are connected through appropriate mechanical interfaces that allow independent movement and realistic interactions, achieving both manufacturing practicality and dynamic simulation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The simulator introduces intermediary elements such as ligaments, muscles, and connective tissue representations that mediate the interactions between anatomical structures. These intermediaries enable realistic force transmission and movement coordination between the hyoid bone, epiglottis, and tongue without requiring complex direct couplings.
3Ease of operation
If existing simulators are used, then the device is simple to operate, but they cannot react realistically to forces applied by the laryngoscope blade
Solution Approach 1:
The simulator employs materials and mechanical designs with appropriately tuned parameters for density, elasticity, viscosity, and structural rigidity to match human anatomical tissues. These parameter choices enable the simulator to respond realistically to applied forces while maintaining ease of manipulation and operation during training procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
Described are examples of a training simulator for direct laryngoscopy, which reproduce the dynamics of the human airway and hyoid bone movement observed in the human anatomy during movement of the somatic skeleton and direct laryngoscopy procedures. Training simulators can include a skeleton structure having a styloid process analogue, a mandible analogue, and a longitudinally extending column configured to move between an extended state and a flexed state. A suspension chain can extend parallel to the column and be configured to move with the column. The suspension chain can include a hyoid analogue coupled to the styloid process analogue, the mandible analogue, and an anchor point situated along the column of the skeleton structure. Training simulators can also include a glottis analogue, the visibility of which can be greater when the column is in a flexed state, than when the column is in an extended state.