Surgical Simulation Tray with Beating Heart Pump
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical training methods lack the realism and efficiency needed for repeated practice and certification, particularly in thoracic surgery, due to limitations in simulator technology and ethical concerns with animal use, necessitating a solution for quick setup and disposal of realistic surgical simulations.
Innovation Solution
A surgical simulation assembly featuring a tray with indentations for organs and a variable speed double-action air pump to simulate a beating heart, supported by a modular and adjustable base structure for easy setup and disposal, allowing for repeated simulations with minimal downtime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional apprenticeship surgical training is used, then surgeons gain practical experience, but the training lacks repetition and control over surgical situations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses physical copies of real organs (animal or cadaver hearts and lungs) mounted on trays to create realistic surgical training environments. These organ copies provide authentic surgical experience while allowing controlled repetition of procedures, resolving the contradiction between training reliability and efficiency.
2Reliability
If live animals are used for surgical training, then realistic surgical experience is provided, but ethical concerns arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable or reusable animal/cadaver organs mounted on trays for surgical simulation. These organs provide realistic surgical experience without the ethical issues of live animal use, as they are prepared specifically for training purposes and can be disposed of or reused after the simulation.
3Reliability
If complex simulator assemblies are used, then realistic surgical environments are created, but setup and disposal time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the simulation system into modular components: organ trays with mounted organs, support structures, and fluid management systems. This segmentation allows quick assembly and disassembly of realistic surgical environments, reducing setup and disposal time while maintaining simulation quality.
Solution Approach 2:
Organs are pre-mounted on trays with attached tubing and fluid lines before the surgical simulation begins. This preliminary preparation eliminates time-consuming setup during actual training sessions, allowing instructors to quickly deploy realistic surgical scenarios.
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
Enables realistic and efficient surgical training by simulating cardiac and lung surgeries with adjustable and reusable animal or cadaver organs, enhancing educational experience and reducing downtime between simulations.
Implementation Method 1
a variable speed double action air pump assembly that creates both positive pressure and a vacuum on the heart to simulate a beating heart
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical simulation assembly is provided for simulating realistic surgery on animal organs or human cadavers. The surgical simulation assembly comprises a generally flat tray having a central indentation for receiving an organ, at least one drainage aperture and at least one indented trough extending from the central indentation for receiving at least one tube. The tray is assembled with a simulator heart and lungs prepped for connection to a variable speed double action air pump assembly that creates both positive pressure and a vacuum on the heart to simulate a beating heart. The tray is supported on a basket having a lower containment portion for containing fluid waste collected during the simulated surgery. The basket is elevated by risers over a base designed to support the assembly.