Pneumatic Cardiac Simulator for Surgical Training

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical training devices for cardiovascular procedures lack anatomical and physiological accuracy, leading to potential collateral damage during minimally invasive endovascular surgeries due to surgeon inexperience, especially with complex procedures.

Innovation Solution

A pneumatically pressurized cardiac simulator system that replicates normal and diseased heart conditions, incorporating anatomically accurate models of the heart and vasculature, with adjustable parameters such as heart rate, pressure, and fluid flow to mimic various heart states, allowing for realistic training and device testing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional surgical training methods are used, then surgeons can gain experience through performing procedures, but the number of available procedures is limited and not every surgeon can obtain sufficient experience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgeon skill levelVSAvoidtraining opportunity availability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a realistic copy of the human cardiovascular system using a phantom model that replicates anatomical structures, tissue properties, and hemodynamic flow patterns. This allows surgeons to practice procedures on a faithful reproduction rather than requiring actual patient procedures, solving the limitation of insufficient training opportunities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If minimally invasive endovascular techniques are used, then surgical safety is improved, but surgeon inexperience can still lead to collateral damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical safetyVSAvoidprocedure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables surgeons to perform preliminary practice procedures on the cardiovascular phantom model before conducting actual minimally invasive procedures on patients. This preliminary training allows surgeons to gain the necessary skills and experience to safely handle complex endovascular techniques without compromising patient safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If anatomically inaccurate training devices are used, then device complexity is reduced, but the simulation does not provide realistic training conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanatomical accuracyVSAvoidtraining effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by ensuring that specific regions of the phantom model accurately represent corresponding anatomical structures with their unique properties. Different vessels, tissues, and flow patterns are replicated with appropriate local characteristics, providing realistic training conditions while maintaining manageable overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Adaptability or versatility

If senior surgeons need to learn new procedures, then medical advancement is improved, but senior surgeons may find it difficult to obtain necessary experience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocedure knowledgeVSAvoidexperience acquisition time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent provides senior surgeons with a realistic cardiovascular system replica that allows them to efficiently learn new procedures without requiring extensive time to accumulate patient case experience. The accurate phantom model enables rapid skill acquisition for emerging techniques while maintaining procedural standards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

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

The system reduces the risk of complications by providing a realistic simulation environment for surgeons to practice and optimize procedures before actual surgeries, enhancing their skills and minimizing risks associated with inexperience.

Implementation Method 1

The system uses pneumatically pressurized chambers to generate ventricle and atrium contractions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPneumatic pressure: Pressurisation

Implementation Method 2

the system is designed to generate pumping action that produces accurate volume fractions and pressure gradients of pulsatile flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP2810270B1Cardiac simulation device

Publication Date: 2017.10.18 VASCULAR SIMULATIONS INC

AI summary

The present invention describes a device and system for simulating normal and disease state cardiac functioning, including an anatomically accurate left cardiac simulator for training and medical device testing. The system and device uses pneumatically pressurized chambers to generate ventricle and atrium contractions. In conjunction with the interaction of synthetic mitral and aortic valves, the system is designed to generate pumping action that produces accurate volume fractions and pressure gradients of pulsatile flow, 'duplicating that of a human heart. Through the use of a remote handheld electronic controller and manual adjustments from a main control panel, the air pressure level, fluidic pressure, and heart rate is controlled to induce contractions that simulate a wide variety of heart conditions ranging from normal heart function to severely diseased or injured heart conditions.