Abstract: An interactive education system for teaching patient care to a user is described. The system comprises a patient simulator; a virtual instrument for use with the patient simulator in performing patient care activities; means for sensing an interaction between the virtual instrument and the simulator, and means for providing feedback to the user regarding the interaction between the virtual instrument and the simulator. In one aspect, the system includes a maternal simulator, a fetal simulator, and a neonatal simulator.

Abstract: An eye assembly for use in a patient simulator is provided. The eye assembly includes an iris diaphragm having a moveable inner portion defining an opening. The inner portion of the iris diaphragm is movable radially from a first position wherein the opening has a first diameter and a second position wherein the opening has a second diameter greater than the first diameter. The iris diaphragm is configured for use in a simulated eye. The eye assembly also includes a dilation actuator in communication with the inner portion of the iris diaphragm for selectively moving the inner portion between the first and second positions to simulate dilation of an eye.

Abstract: A patient simulator for teaching patient care is provided. The simulator includes a patient body comprising one or more simulated body portions and a pair of bladders positioned within the patient body for simulating a patient's lungs. A compressor is positioned within the patient body in communication with the bladders for selectively providing an air supply to the bladders to simulate a respiratory pattern. A master module is also positioned within the patient body and configured for communication with an external control system. A respiratory module system is positioned within the patient body and spaced from the master module. The respiratory module system controls the respiratory pattern of the patient simulator by controlling the air supply to and from the bladders. The patient simulator is operable without physical connection to an external device.

Abstract: A newborn simulator for teaching patient care is provided. The newborn simulator includes a body comprising one or more simulated body portions sized to simulate a newborn baby and a head portion movably connected to a portion of the body. A simulated heart is positioned at least partially within the body along with a pair of simulated lungs. The simulator is operable without physical connection to an external device to provide a simulated heart beat and respiratory pattern.

Abstract: A patient simulator system for teaching patient care is provided. The system includes a patient simulator. The patient simulator includes a patient body comprising one or more simulated body portions. A respiratory system is positioned within the patient body. The respiratory system includes a pair of lungs and is configured to simulate a respiratory pattern of a patient. A circulatory system is also positioned within the patient body. The circulatory system is configured to simulate at least one circulatory parameter of the patient. The system also includes a control system in communication with the patient simulator. The control system includes a respiratory physiological model for controlling the simulated respiratory pattern of the respiratory system and a circulatory physiological model for controlling the at least one circulatory parameter of the circulatory system.

Abstract: A method of teaching patient care is provided. The method includes providing a medical simulator including a model of at least a portion of a human body. The simulator is configured to execute a simulated medical scenario. The method also includes defining a plurality of palette items, each of the plurality of palette items associated with a physiological state of the simulator, and defining at least one scenario, the at least one scenario including a series of linked palette items. The method also includes selecting a scenario for execution by the simulator, communicating the selected scenario to the simulator, and utilizing the simulator to execute the selected scenario.

Abstract: An interactive education system for teaching patient care to a user is described. The system comprises a patient simulator; a virtual instrument for use with the patient simulator in performing patient care activities; means for sensing an interaction between the virtual instrument and the simulator, and means for providing feedback to the user regarding the interaction between the virtual instrument and the simulator. In one aspect, the system includes a maternal simulator, a fetal simulator, and a neonatal simulator.

Abstract: An interactive education system is described for teaching patient care to a user. In one example, the system includes a model of a human body, including lungs, a passage in fluid communication with the lungs, and a breathing valve for controlling the flow of fluid through the passage. The system also includes a pneumatic module for delivering pressurized fluid to the fluid passage. A processor may be used to control the breathing valve. A memory is accessible to the processor for storing instructions for execution by the processor, including instructions for manipulating the breathing valve to regulate the flow of pressurized fluid from the pneumatic module to the lungs. The processor may also produce various physiological indicators, including waveforms, a pulse, etc. The indicators may be prerecorded or dynamically generated. An external device may be used to wirelessly control the processor.

Abstract: An interactive education system for teaching patient care to a user is described. The system comprises a patient simulator; a virtual instrument for use with the patient simulator in performing patient care activities; means for sensing an interaction between the virtual instrument and the simulator, and means for providing feedback to the user regarding the interaction between the virtual instrument and the simulator.

Abstract: An interactive education system for teaching patient care to a user is described. The system comprises a patient simulator; a virtual instrument for use with the patient simulator in performing patient care activities; means for sensing an interaction between the virtual instrument and the simulator, and means for providing feedback to the user regarding the interaction between the virtual instrument and the simulator.

Abstract: An interactive education system is described for teaching patient care to a user. In one example, the system includes a model of a human body, including lungs, a passage in fluid communication with the lungs, and a breathing valve for controlling the flow of fluid through the passage. The system also includes a pneumatic module for delivering pressurized fluid to the fluid passage. A processor may be used to control the breathing valve. A memory is accessible to the processor for storing instructions for execution by the processor, including instructions for manipulating the breathing valve to regulate the flow of pressurized fluid from the pneumatic module to the lungs. The processor may also produce various physiological indicators, including waveforms, a pulse, etc. The indicators may be prerecorded or dynamically generated. An external device may be used to wirelessly control the processor.

Abstract: An interactive education system for teaching patient care to a user is described. The system comprises a patient simulator; a virtual instrument for use with the patient simulator in performing patient care activities; means for sensing an interaction between the virtual instrument and the simulator, and means for providing feedback to the user regarding the interaction between the virtual instrument and the simulator.

Abstract: An interactive, computerized education system for teaching patient care includes an interactive computer program for use with a simulator, such as a manikin, and virtual instruments for performing simulated patient care activity under the direction of the program. The program displays a selection of modules to assist a user in learning patient care protocols, the modules being selectable by the user for providing different interactive training sessions involving the protocols. The virtual instruments are used with the simulator in performing the patient care activity, the virtual instruments cooperating with sensors that interface with the computer program for providing feedback to the program regarding the activity and confirming proper placement and use of the virtual instruments on the simulator.

Abstract: A gynecological simulator for training medical personnel in gynecological procedures includes a body simulating the torso of a human female having an internal cavity therein. A flexible vagina having a proximal end fixed to the body and a distal end extending inwardly into the cavity removably receives a securely retained cervix and a rotatable uterus by means of a locking ring and locking cap, respectively, both threadably engaged to a threaded pedestal secured to the cervix. Fallopian tubes, ovaries and round ligaments are provided removably attached to the uterus, and incisions are disposed in the skin encasing the simulator for enabling laparoscopy and minilaparotomy to be performed on the fallopian tubes.