Interactive education system for teaching patient care
Simulator systems for teaching patient care are provided. In some instances, the simulator system includes a maternal simulator sized and shaped to simulate a pregnant woman, the maternal simulator including a torso, arms, legs, and a head, wherein the torso includes a chamber sized and shaped to receive a fetal simulator and wherein a birthing mechanism is disposed within the chamber for providing rotational and translational movement to the fetal simulator in a birthing simulation; and a fetal simulator sized and shaped to simulate a fetus, the fetal simulator configured to be selectively engaged with the birthing mechanism of the maternal simulator.
1. A patient simulator for teaching patient care, the patient simulator comprising:
a patient body comprising a plurality of physically simulated body parts;
a master computer module positioned within the patient body and configured for communication with an external control system,
wherein the master computer module is configured to receive simulation commands from the external control system and relay the simulation commands to a plurality of task computer modules positioned within the patient body and spaced from the master computer module;
the plurality of task computer modules,
wherein each of the plurality of task computer modules includes a processor configured to execute the simulation commands received from the master computer module to control at least one of the plurality of physically simulated body parts for a desired physiological scenario;
and
an internal power supply connected to the master computer module,
wherein each of the plurality of task computer modules is connected to the master computer module via:
a power wire so that the master computer module can control power consumption by each of the plurality of task computer modules from the internal power supply; and
a communication device so that the master computer module can control activation and deactivation of each of the plurality of task computer modules.
2. The patient simulator of claim 1 , wherein the master computer module is configured for wireless communication with the external control system.
3. The patient simulator of claim 1 ,
wherein the internal power supply is connected to both the master computer module and a charger; and
wherein the charger is configured for communication with an external power supply to recharge the internal power supply.
4. The patient simulator of claim 3 , wherein the communication device via which each of the plurality of task computer modules is connected to the master computer module comprises a communication wire.
5. The patient simulator of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of task computer modules is configured for communication with the master computer module and/or at least one other of the plurality of task computer modules so that the master computer module can control the activation and deactivation of each of the plurality of task computer modules.
6. The patient simulator of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of task computer modules comprises a heart sound computer module positioned within the patient body and spaced from the master computer module; and
wherein the heart sound computer module is configured to produce sounds simulating a human patient's heart.
7. The patient simulator of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of task computer modules comprises a breathing valve computer module positioned within the patient body and spaced from the master computer module; and
wherein the breathing valve computer module is configured to control a respiratory pattern of the patient simulator.
8. The patient simulator of claim 7 , wherein the breathing valve computer module is in communication with the master computer module so that the breathing valve computer module can simulate the respiratory pattern using parameters defined by the external control system.
9. The patient simulator of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of task computer modules further comprises one or more lung sound computer modules positioned within the patient body and spaced from the master computer module; and
wherein the one or more lung sound computer modules are each configured to produce sounds simulating a human patient's lungs.
10. The patient simulator of claim 9 , wherein the one or more lung sound computer modules are coordinated with the breathing valve computer module so that the sounds produced by the one or more lung sound computer modules are coordinated with the parameters of the respiratory pattern defined by the external control system.
11. The patient simulator of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of task computer modules comprises a chest compression computer module positioned within the patient body and spaced from the master computer module; and
wherein the chest compression computer module is configured to monitor a compression pressure imparted during a chest compression of the patient body.
12. The patient simulator of claim 11 , wherein the chest compression computer module is in communication with the master computer module so that the compression pressure can be communicated to the external control system.
13. The patient simulator of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of task computer modules comprises an intubation computer module positioned within the patient body and spaced from the master computer module; and
wherein the intubation computer module is configured to monitor a depth of an intubation tube positionable within a simulated trachea of the patient body.
14. The patient simulator of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of task computer modules further comprises a ventilation computer module positioned within the patient body and spaced from the master computer module; and
wherein the ventilation computer module is configured to monitor a ventilation pressure created by an external ventilation device.
15. The patient simulator of claim 14 , wherein the ventilation computer module is in communication with the master computer module so that the ventilation pressure can be communicated to the external control system.
16. The patient simulator of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of task computer modules comprises an ECG computer module positioned within the patient body and spaced from the master computer module; and
wherein the ECG computer module is configured to emit electrical signals to simulate electrical signals emitted by a human patient's heart.
17. The patient simulator of claim 16 , wherein the ECG computer module is connected to a pacer/defib computer module that permits external pacing and defibrillation.
18. The patient simulator of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of task computer modules comprises an eye assembly computer module positioned within the patient body and spaced from the master computer module; and
wherein the eye assembly computer module is configured to control a pair of simulated eyes of the patient body.
19. The patient simulator of claim 18 , wherein the eye assembly computer module is configured to control pupil dilation and blinking of the pair of simulated eyes of the patient body.