Technical Workshop

Abstract

Over the last few years, anesthesia simulation has advanced from purely screen-based simulations running on a desktop computer and consisting only of software, to the full-body simulator. The latter uses a computer system to control a life-size mannequin, which is equipped with lungs, a cardiovascular system, and other features which enhance realism and allow trainees to test motor skills as well as thought processes. The full-body simulator has electromechanical sensing and control devices. These allow software-dictated physiologic changes to be reflected in external monitoring devices (e.g. EKG, blood pressure) and in physically detectable characteristics (lung compliance, airway difficulty, muscle twitch, heart sounds). In addition, administered drugs, ventilation, and other external stimuli can be sensed by the system and reported back to the software.