Responsive model with sensors
Assignee7-Sigma, Inc.
InventorsWade R. Eichhorn, Richard M. Duda, Kristian G. Wyrobek
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Abstract
A flexible responsive model has a major surface and a sensor attached to and aligned with the major surface of the responsive model. The sensor may have piezoelectric body, such as an elastic body containing conductive nanotubes homogeneously distributed therein to form a conductive path and at least two electrodes in electrical connection with the conductive path. Models of organs, physical structures that are the subject of medical procedures are particularly useful in methods used in training personnel and evaluating medical techniques and medical personnel.
Claims20
A responsive model having a major surface and a sensor attached to and aligned with the major surface of the responsive model, wherein:
- the sensor comprises an elastic body containing conductive nanotubes homogeneously distributed therein to form a conductive path and at least two electrodes in electrical connection with the conductive path.
The flexible responsive model wherein the major surface is non-conductive.
A method of detecting stress, pressure, contact, penetration or dimensional changes during a simulation of a medical procedure within an environment comprising positioning within the environment a responsive model having a major surface and a sensor attached to and aligned with the major surface of the responsive model, the sensor comprises an elastic body containing conductive nanotubes homogeneously distributed therein to form a conductive path and at least two electrodes in electrical connection with the conductive path;
- applying a current across the sensor through one of the at least two electrodes;
- simulating activity within the environment imitating activity occurring during the medical procedure;
- determining changes in the current or voltage;
- and
- providing signals indicating changes in the current to a processor;
- and
- the processor executing code to correlate determined changes in the current to stress, pressure, contact, penetration or dimensional changes in the responsive model comprising the sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.