Phantom Tissue Surface Feedback for Sterile CVC Instrument Training

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical simulators focus on haptics and neglect detailed training on the use of medical instruments, particularly in Central Venous Catheterization (CVC), which increases the risk of infection due to improper instrument handling.

Innovation Solution

A medical training system with a user interface, phantom tissue simulant surface, insertion hole, medical instruments, sensors, and microprocessor, allowing precise tracking and feedback on instrument insertion and manipulation, including needle assembly, guidewire, scalpel, dilator, and catheter, to ensure sterile technique.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If simulation methods are used to allow repetitive practice, then patient safety is improved, but detailed training on instrument use and sterile technique is neglected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient safetyVSAvoidtraining on instrument use and sterile technique

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates sensors that detect instrument position, insertion depth, and manipulation actions, providing real-time feedback to trainees. This feedback mechanism ensures that detailed training on instrument use and sterile technique is maintained while allowing repetitive practice on the simulation surface, thus resolving the contradiction between patient safety and comprehensive training.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If focus is placed on haptics training, then procedural skill is improved, but training on simpler steps and instrument use is neglected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocedural skillVSAvoidtraining on simpler steps and instrument use

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The simulation surface is divided into multiple zones with different characteristics (e.g., insertion zone, manipulation zone, sterile field zone). Each zone can be independently configured to train specific aspects of the procedure, from simple instrument handling to complex haptic skills, allowing comprehensive training without neglecting simpler steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If real patient procedures are used for training, then comprehensive clinical experience is gained, but patient risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclinical experienceVSAvoidpatient risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a realistic copy of the clinical procedure environment with a simulation surface that mimics tissue properties, anatomical landmarks, and procedural steps. Trainees can gain comprehensive clinical experience through repeated practice on this copy without exposing real patients to risk, thus resolving the contradiction between clinical experience and patient safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS20250391290A1Testing surface for advanced medical training

Publication Date: 2025.12.25 THE PENN STATE RES FOUND INC

AI summary

A medical training system is provided having a housing, a phantom tissue simulant surface, an insertion hole, at least one medical instrument with a tip configured to pierce the phantom tissue simulant surface, a passage, at least one sensor, and a microprocessor. The system simulate a medical training procedure and the microprocessor is configured to read and process information from each of the at least one sensor in order to provide feedback to a user.