Lung simulator for teaching and training

A lung simulator for treating and training, comprising:

• a physical lung model comprising:
• a lung compartment delimited by:
• an enlargeable and reducible piston for enlarging and reducing a volume of the lung compartment;
• a lid sealing a first end of the piston;
• and
• a support body carrying the piston, a second end of the piston sealingly attached to the support body;
• an airway leading from the lung compartment to an airway opening;
• a mechanical stop attached to the piston and partitioning the piston into a first enlargeable and reducible section and a second enlargeable and reducible section, the mechanical stop describing a path of movement during enlargement of the lung compartment;
• a lever for blocking movement of the stop at a predefined point on the path of movement during enlargement of the lung compartment and, thereby, restricting the enlargement of the lung compartment;
• a control unit configured to read sensor and status data from the physical lung model and set actuators, in the physical lung model;
• a physiological model unit configured to compare sensor and status data from the physical lung model with data desired and input by an operator and to provide amended settings for the physical lung model on a basis of physiological or pathophysiological models;
• and
• a graphical user interface receiving operator input and presenting sensor and status data of the physical lung model provided via the physiological model unit.

A method of simulating lung mechanics, for training and teaching purposes, comprising:

• providing an enlargeable and reducible piston having two ends, wherein a lid is attached sealingly to the first end of the piston and the piston with a second end is sealingly attached to a support body, the support body, piston and lid forming an enlargeable and reducible compartment, so that the first end of the piston may move freely during enlargement and reduction of the piston;
• enlarging and reducing said compartment by enlarging and reducing the piston for simulating enlargement and reduction of a lung volume;
• and
• restricting the enlargement of the compartment by blocking a movement of a section of the piston during enlargement of the compartment for simulating reduced lung compliance.