Apparatus and method for simulated health care procedures in combination with virtual reality

Abstract

A medical/veterinary procedure simulation apparatus includes a simulated mammalian body part. The simulated mammalian body part further includes one or more anatomical replications of mammalian tissue. The apparatus also includes an attaching substrate for fixedly attaching the simulated body part to a mammal or a model of the mammal. The apparatus further includes one or more sensors configured to provide a quantified measurement of one or more actions, pertaining to at least one medical procedure. The apparatus further includes a virtual reality system configured to receive one or more input signals from the one or more sensors. The virtual reality system is further configured to display at least one visual representation of at least one clinical procedure being performed on the one or more anatomical replications based on the one or more input signals from the one or more sensors.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for simulation of treatment of a mammal, the apparatus comprising:
 a physical anatomically simulated mammalian body part comprising an artificial anatomical replication of a blood vessel and tissue suitable for simulating at least one of: dialysis arteriovenous (AV), fistula, veni-punctures, and intravenous therapy;   an attaching substrate for fixedly attaching the simulated mammalian body part to a mammal;   one or more sensors configured to provide a quantified measurement of an action useful to determine a level of proficiency demonstrated by a practitioner performing a medical procedure simulation on the simulated mammalian body part, pertaining to at least one simulation procedure, performed on the simulated body part   a conductive layer such that an insertion of a clinical tool through the simulated mammalian body part completes an electrical circuit upon contact with the clinical tool;   a protective layer providing puncture resistance to prevent the clinical tool from passing through the simulated mammalian body part into the mammal;   a virtual reality system located at a first site and configured to receive one or more input signals from the one or more sensors, wherein the virtual reality system is further configured to display a visual representation of the medical procedure simulation at least one of: dialysis arteriovenous (AV) graft, fistula, veni-punctures, and intravenous therapy based on the one or more input signals from the one or more sensors and provide immediate or summarized feedback via an audio or visual cue and data displayed a user interface; and   a transceiver operable to transmit the one or more input signals to a facilitator device that is located at a second site.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the simulated mammalian body part is a multi-vessel arm-sleeve comprising one or more blood vessels, the multi-vessel arm-sleeve configured to simulate grafts and fistulas as the medical procedure simulation. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the simulated mammalian body part is a multi-vein arm-sleeve comprising one or more veins as the one or more anatomical replications, the multi-vein arm-sleeve being configured to simulate veni-punctures and intravenous therapy as the at least one simulation procedure. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the simulated mammalian body part is a multi-vessel chest comprising an artery, a vein and an organ as the one or more anatomical replications, the multi-vessel chest being configured to simulate jugular punctures, emergency fluid infusion, chemotherapy infusion, administration of specific medications, emergency hemodialysis filtration, and infusion of blood products as the at least one simulation procedure. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the simulated mammalian body part is a bib-style device configured to be worn around a neck of the mammal or a model, the bib-style device simulating tracheostomy care and tracheostomy tube replacement as the at least one simulation procedure. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the bib-style device further comprises:
 a bib configured to at least partly cover a torso of the mammal or the model of the mammal, the bib simulating one or more truncal tissues;   a collar connected with the bib, the collar including a stoma;   an outer cannula received at least partly within the stoma, the outer cannula including a flange or a neck plate,   an inner cannula received within the outer cannula;   an obturator received within the inner cannula; and   an inflatable bag coupled to the outer cannula.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the simulated mammalian body part is a three-fingered glove, the three-fingered glove simulating finger-stick glucose checks as the at least one simulation procedure. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an audio recording device configured to record voice recitations; and 
 a timing device for synchronizing the voice recitations captured using the audio recording device with an action pertaining to the simulation procedure. 
 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the virtual reality system further comprises:
 a communication interface configured to receive the one or more input signals from the one or more sensors;   a processor that is configured to generate a visual representation of the at least one simulation procedure being performed on the one or more anatomical replications based on the one or more input signals;   a memory configured to store information relating to the at least one visual representation, the at least one simulation procedure and the one or more input signals; and   a display for displaying the at least one visual representation.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the transceiver is further operative to transmit the voice recitations to the facilitator. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the transceiver is further operative to transmit to the facilitator one or more signals generated by the timing device. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the transceiver is further operative to transmit the at least one visual representation to the facilitator. 
     
     
         13 . A method of simulating a medical procedure on a mammal, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving into a timing device a quantified measurement of one or more actions pertaining to a medical procedure from a sensor in logical connection with a medical procedure simulation device, wherein the medical procedure simulation device comprises:
 a simulated mammalian body part comprising an artificial blood vessel and tissue suitable for simulating at least one of: dialysis arteriovenous (AV), fistula, veni-punctures, and intravenous therapy; 
 an attaching substrate for fixedly attaching the simulated mammalian body part to a mammal; 
 one or more sensors configured to provide a quantified measurement of one or more actions useful to determine a level of proficiency demonstrated by a practitioner performing a medical procedure simulation on the simulated body part, pertaining to at least one simulation procedure; 
 a conductive layer such that an insertion of a clinical tool through the simulated mammalian body part completes an electrical circuit upon contact with the clinical tool; 
 a protective layer providing puncture resistance to prevent the clinical tool from passing through the simulated body part into the mammal; 
 a virtual reality system configured to receive one or more input signals from the one or more sensors, wherein the virtual reality system is further configured to display a visual representation of the medical procedure simulation at least one of: dialysis arteriovenous (AV) graft, fistula, veni-punctures, and intravenous therapy based on the one or more input signals from the one or more sensors and provide immediate or summarized feedback via an audio or visual cue and data displayed a user interface; and 
 a transceiver operable to transmit the one or more input signals to a facilitator; capturing in an audio recording device audio data during the medical procedure; 
   using a timing device to measure elapsed time intervals during the medical procedure;   synchronizing an output of the timing device with the audio data;   associating the audio data with a time index;   transmitting to a virtual reality system one or more of: the audio data; the quantified measurement; and synchronized data;   generating a visual representation of the medical procedure based on one or more of: the audio data; the quantified measurement; and the synchronized data; and   transmitting to a facilitator device one or more of: the audio data; the quantified measurement; and the synchronized data.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
 recording a voice recitation with an audio recording device; and   synchronizing the voice recitations captured using the audio recording device with the simulation procedure.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of transmitting, via the transceiver, the voice recitations to the facilitator. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of transmitting, via the transceiver, one or more signals generated by the timing device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of transmitting, via the transceiver, at least one visual representation to the facilitator device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the simulated mammalian body part is a multi-vein arm-sleeve comprising multiple artificial veins, the arm sleeve being configured to simulate veni-punctures and intravenous therapy as the simulation procedure. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the simulated mammalian body part is a multi-vessel arm-sleeve comprising one or more blood vessels, the multi-vessel arm-sleeve configured to simulate AV grafts and fistulas as the medical procedure simulation. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the simulated mammalian body part is a bib-style device configured to be worn around a neck of the mammal or a model of the mammal, the bib-style device simulating tracheostomy chare and tracheostomy tube replacement as the at least one simulation procedure.