Simulated Medical Device

Abstract

A simulated medical device may include a visual display, a processor, a memory, a switch connected to a power supply, a body housing the visual display, the processor, the memory, and the switch, and a simulated probe coupled to the body. The body is configured to receive internally at least a portion of the simulated probe. The switch is configured to provide a supply of power to the processor when the at least a portion of the simulated probe is external to the body and to disconnect the supply of power to the processor if the at least a portion of the simulated probe is inserted in the body. The processor is configured to cause the visual display to display at least a first simulated medical value in response to receiving the supply of power at the processor and after a time duration indicated by a simulated acquisition time.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A simulated medical device for providing a realistic training environment for health care or patient care providers, the device comprising:
 a visual display;   a processor;   a memory;   a switch connected to a power supply;   a body housing the visual display, the processor, the memory, and the switch; and   a simulated probe coupled to the body,   wherein the body is configured to receive internally at least a portion of the simulated probe,   wherein the switch is configured to provide a supply of power to the processor from the power supply when the at least a portion of the simulated probe is external to the body and to disconnect the supply of power to the processor from the power supply if the at least a portion of the simulated probe is inserted in the body,   wherein the memory is configured to store a plurality of simulated medical values and a simulated acquisition time, and   wherein the processor is configured to cause the visual display to display at least a first simulated medical value of the plurality of simulated values in response to receiving the supply of power at the processor and after a time duration indicated by the simulated acquisition time.   
     
     
         2 . The simulated medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises an integral sheath configured to receive internally the at least a portion of the simulated probe, and wherein the switch is positioned in the integral sheath such that when the at least a portion of the simulated probe is external to the integral sheath the switch is in a closed state to provide the supply of power to the processor from the power supply and when the simulated probe is inserted in the integral sheath the switch is in an open state to disconnect the supply of power to the processor from the power supply. 
     
     
         3 . The simulated medical device of  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface configured to receive user input, and wherein the processor is configured to set values of the plurality of simulated medical values and the time duration of the simulated acquisition time based at least partly on the user input. 
     
     
         4 . The simulated medical device of  claim 3 , wherein the user interface comprises a plurality of buttons accessible via at least one opening in the body. 
     
     
         5 . The simulated medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the memory is further configured to store a display mode of the visual display, and wherein the processor is configured to cause the visual display to display the at least a first simulated medical value of the plurality of simulated values based at least partly on the display mode. 
     
     
         6 . The simulated medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the simulated probe is coupled to the body via a coiled cable. 
     
     
         7 . The simulated medical device of  claim 1 , further comprising a receiver configured to receive wireless signals from an external transmitter, wherein the processor is configured to set values of the plurality of simulated medical values and the time duration of the simulated acquisition time based at least partly on the wireless signals. 
     
     
         8 . The simulated medical device of  claim 7 , wherein processor is configured to modify the values of the plurality of simulated medical values during the simulated acquisition time. 
     
     
         9 . The simulated medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to cause the visual display to cycle between display of the at least a first simulated medical value of the plurality of simulated values and display of at least one second simulated value of the plurality of simulated values each time the switch cycles from disconnecting the supply of power to the processor from the power supply to providing the supply of power to the processor from the power supply. 
     
     
         10 . The simulated medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the simulated probe comprises a simulated thermometer probe, and wherein the plurality of simulated medical values comprise simulated temperatures. 
     
     
         11 . The simulated medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the simulated probe is disconnected from the processor and memory. 
     
     
         12 . A method for providing a realistic training environment for health care or patient care providers with a simulated medical device comprising a visual display, a processor, a memory, a switch connected to a power supply, a body housing the visual display, the processor, the memory, and the switch, and a simulated probe coupled to the body, wherein the body is configured to receive internally at least a portion of the simulated probe, the method comprising:
 storing, by the memory, a plurality of simulated medical values and a simulated acquisition time;   providing, by the switch, a supply of power to the processor from the power supply in response to the at least a portion of the simulated probe being external to the body;   displaying, by the processor on the visual display, at least a first simulated medical value of the plurality of simulated values in response to receiving the supply of power at the processor and after a time duration indicated by the simulated acquisition time; and   disconnecting, by the switch, the supply of power to the processor from the power supply in response to the at least a portion of the simulated probe being inserted in the body.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the body comprises an integral sheath configured to receive internally the at least a portion of the simulated probe, and wherein the switch is positioned in the integral sheath, the method further comprising providing, by the switch, the supply of power to the processor from the power supply in response to the at least a portion of the simulated probe being external to the integral sheath by placing the switch in a closed state, and disconnecting, by the switch, the supply of power to the processor from the power supply in response to the simulated probe being inserted in the integral sheath by placing the switch in an open state. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising
 providing a user interface;   receiving, by the user interface, user input from a user; and   setting, by the processor, values of the plurality of simulated medical values and the time duration of the simulated acquisition time based at least partly on the user input.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the user interface comprises a plurality of buttons accessible via at least one opening in the body. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 storing, by the memory, a display mode for the visual display; and   displaying, by the processor on the visual display, the at least a first simulated medical value of the plurality of simulated values based at least partly on the display mode.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 receiving, by a receiver, wireless signals from an external transmitter; and   setting, by the processor, values of the plurality of simulated medical values and the time duration of the simulated acquisition time based at least partly on the wireless signals.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising modifying, by the processor, the values of the plurality of simulated medical values during the simulated acquisition time. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , cycling, by the processor, between display on the visual display of the at least a first simulated medical value of the plurality of simulated values and display on the visual display of at least one second simulated value of the plurality of simulated values in response to each cycle of a plurality of cycles of the switch cycling from disconnecting the supply of power to the processor from the power supply to providing the supply of power to the processor from the power supply. 
     
     
         20 . A simulated medical device for providing a realistic training environment for health care or patient care providers, the device comprising:
 visual display means;   processor means;   memory means;   switch means connected to power supply means;   body means for housing the visual display means, the processor means, the memory means, and the switch means; and   a simulated probe means for simulating a medical device probe coupled to the body means;   wherein the body means comprises sheath means for receiving internally at least a portion of the simulated probe means,   wherein the switch means provides a supply of power to the processor from the power supply means if the at least a portion of the simulated probe means is external to the sheath means and disconnects the supply of power to the processor means from the power supply means if the at least a portion of the simulated probe means is inserted in the sheath means,   wherein the memory means is configured to store a plurality of simulated medical values and a simulated acquisition time, and   wherein the processor means causes the visual display means to display at least a first simulated medical value of the plurality of simulated values in response to receiving the supply of power from the power supply means via the switch means and after a time duration indicated by the simulated acquisition time.