Wireless Patient Simulator for Realistic Obstetric Training
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current patient care education systems lack realism, are often expensive, and are not portable due to bulky components and wired connections, failing to simulate the complexities of real patient care scenarios, especially during child birthing, where cervical dilation and fetal movement are not adequately represented.
Innovation Solution
An interactive education system featuring tetherless patient simulators that include a maternal, fetal, and neonatal simulator, capable of wireless communication, with integrated circulatory and respiratory systems to simulate realistic physiological parameters, allowing for hands-on training without external connections, and providing a comprehensive educational experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If real medical instruments are used for training, then training realism is improved, but cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of real medical instruments that replicate their appearance, texture, and operational characteristics. These virtual instruments are integrated into a simulated patient system, allowing students to practice procedures with realistic feedback without using expensive real medical equipment. The virtual instruments respond to student actions with appropriate tactile and visual feedback, maintaining training realism while eliminating the need for costly real instruments.
2Adaptability or versatility
If patient simulators include comprehensive physiological systems, then training comprehensiveness is improved, but device complexity and portability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the complex physiological simulation system into separate modular components, each handling specific functions such as respiratory simulation, circulatory simulation, and neurological simulation. These modules can be independently configured and integrated based on training requirements. The modular architecture allows comprehensive physiological modeling while maintaining manageable system complexity and enabling portable deployment of specific simulation scenarios.
3Ease of operation
If patient simulators are made portable, then ease of transportation is improved, but functional completeness worsens due to removal of bulky components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical and wired components with wireless communication technologies and integrated electronic systems. The simulated patient and control systems communicate via wireless protocols, eliminating the need for cumbersome cables and external power connections. This substitution enables portable deployment while maintaining full functional capability, as the wireless architecture provides the same data and power transmission without physical connections.
4Reliability
If child birthing simulation includes obscured view and inaccessible fetus, then realism is improved, but difficulty of detection and measurement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediary sensing systems and display technologies that allow students to detect fetal position and maternal physiological parameters without direct visual access. Sensors embedded in the simulated patient detect fetal movement, cervical dilation, and other critical parameters, then relay this information to student controllers through appropriate interfaces. This intermediary system maintains the realistic obscured view while providing the measurement capabilities needed for effective training.
Data Source
AI summary
Simulator systems for teaching patient care are provided. In some instances, the simulator system includes a master computer module positioned within a patient body and configured to communicate simulation commands to a pneumatic module also positioned within the patient body and spaced from the master computer module. A compressor module is configured to control a compressor to supply compressed air from the compressor to the pneumatic module. The pneumatic module includes a processor configured to execute the simulation commands received from the master computer module to control a physically simulated body part of the patient body with the supplied compressed air.