Emergency surgical airway surgery simulation device

1 . An artificial anatomical model for simulating a cricothyroidotomy procedure, the model comprising:

an upper body structure including a neck member with a tracheal access window spanned by a membrane; and

an anatomically accurate larynx-trachea structure disposed within the neck member under the membrane; said structure comprised of a rigid first material and including an incisable artificial cricothyroid membrane disposed therein configured for alignment in the tracheal access window, said incisable artificial cricothyroid membrane material sealing off an expansible chamber in fluid communication therewith,

wherein the expansible chamber is connected to a reservoir of vaporisable alcohol.

2 . The artificial anatomical model according to claim 1 , wherein the rigid first material of the anatomically accurate larynx-trachea structure comprises polylactide.

3 . The artificial anatomical model according to claim 1 , wherein the incisable artificial cricothyroid membrane comprises polyvinyl chloride and plasticiser.

4 . The artificial anatomical model according to claim 1 , wherein the membrane spanning the tracheal window comprises silicone.

5 . The artificial anatomical model according to claim 1 , wherein the expansible chamber includes an actuable carbon dioxide reservoir configured to deliver a predetermined amount of carbon dioxide to the expansible chamber upon actuation of a pressure sensor.

6 . The artificial anatomical model according to claim 5 further including circuitry for regulating the timing of the delivery of the predetermined amount of carbon dioxide to the expansible chamber.

7 . The artificial anatomical model according to claim 1 , wherein a measured compliance profile of the expansible chamber approximates a measured compliance profile for lungs of a human patient.

8 . The artificial anatomical model according to claim 1 , wherein the expansible chamber is configured to expand upon introduction of air into the model through an endo-tracheal tube inserted through an incision made in the incisable artificial cricothyroid membrane.

9 . The artificial anatomical model according to claim 1 , wherein the expansible chamber is inflatable to a higher pressure relative to the external environment.

10 . The artificial anatomical model according to claim 1 , wherein the incisable resilient membrane spanning the tracheal access window, the incisable artificial cricothyroid membrane, and the anatomically accurate larynx-trachea structure are independently replaceable.

11 . A system for simulating a cricothyroidotomy procedure, the system comprising:

an artificial anatomical model comprising,

an upper body structure including a neck member with a tracheal access window spanned by an incisable resilient membrane; and

an anatomically accurate larynx-trachea structure disposed within the neck member under the incisable resilient membrane; said structure comprised of a relatively rigid material and including an incisable artificial cricothyroid membrane material aligned in tracheal access window, said incisable cricothyroid membrane material sealing an expansible chamber in fluid communication therewith,

wherein the expansible chamber is connected to a reservoir of vaporisable alcohol.

12 . The system of claim 11 further comprising circuitry for regulating timing of delivery of a predetermined amount of carbon dioxide to the pressurised expansible chamber.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein a measured compliance profile of the pressurised expansible chamber approximates a measured compliance profile of lungs of a human patient.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the expansible chamber is expansible upon introduction of air into the model through an endo-tracheal tube inserted through an incision made in the cricothyroid membrane.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the expansible chamber is inflated to a higher pressure relative to the external environment before the cricothyroidotomy procedure is commenced.