Pelvic Surgery Training Model

Abstract

A male or female human pelvic model for teaching, practicing, or evaluating proficiency in physical examination, medical or surgical techniques, or procedures involving the pelvis are disclosed. The pelvic model can include replaceable pelvic skeletal frame and normal, pathological, or other modules providing 3D anatomical representations of various body components, such as skin, organs, muscles, vessels, connective tissues, ligaments, tendons, or nerves. The pelvic model can include portions that can retain pressurized fluid, such as to mimic a body organ, cavity, or vessel that retains fluid, so that leakage can occur, such as upon unintended cutting or puncture. A rotating open-top pelvic region structure can permit viewing or video capture during the simulated procedure.

The claimed invention is: 
     
         1 . An anatomical model for demonstrating, practicing, or evaluating a human pelvic examination, medical, or surgical procedure or technique, the model comprising:
 a pelvic region structure, comprising three-dimensional (3D) anatomical representations of a pubic bone, a sacrum, a coccyx, and at least one of an ischium or an ilium; and   a user-removable body component module, comprising a 3D anatomical representation of at least one of a human organ, gland, muscle group, nerve, vessel, ligament, tendon, connective tissue, or skin, the body component module configured to be directly or indirectly engaged in substantially correct anatomical relation to the pelvic region structure.   
     
     
         2 . The anatomical model of  claim 1 , comprising
 a support structure, configured to support the pelvic region structure; and   a lockable pivot coupling, configured to removably couple at least a portion of the pelvic region structure to the support structure to allow pivoting of an exposed top region of the pelvic region structure to be viewed laterally by an observer.   
     
     
         3 . The anatomical model of  claim 1 , wherein the pelvic region structure comprises:
 at least three separately user-replaceable modules comprising:
 (1) an anterior module, including a 3D representation of a pubic region; 
 (2) a posterior module, including a 3D representation of at least a portion of a sacrum; and 
 (3) a medial module, including a 3D representations of a main bony pelvis comprising at least an iliac crest; and 
   wherein the anterior and posterior modules include respective couplings that are user-attachable and user-detachable from the medial module along respective specified non-anatomical interfaces.   
     
     
         4 . The anatomical model of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the anterior module comprises 3D representations of pubic symphysis, inferior pubic ramus, and superior pubic ramus;   the medial module comprises 3D representations of an iliac crest, an ischial tuberosity, and first sacral vertebrae; and   the posterior module comprises 3D representations of an ischial spine, second, third, fourth and fifth sacral vertebrae, and a coccyx.   
     
     
         5 . The anatomical model of  claim 3 , comprising a bladder module, including a 3D representation of a bladder, the bladder module including a coupling that is user-attachable and user-detachable from at least one of the anterior module, the posterior module, or the medial module. 
     
     
         6 . The anatomical model of  claim 5 , wherein bladder module includes:
 the 3D representation of the bladder including an elastic balloon, configured to be capable of retaining a fluid, and configured to simulate an anatomical size, shape, consistency, and feel; and   a male or female sliding lock coupling, configured to engage a mating female or male sliding lock coupling of the anterior module.   
     
     
         7 . The anatomical model of  claim 6 , wherein the 3D representation of the bladder comprises a valve capable of being closed such that the 3D representation of the bladder is capable of retaining at least some fluid. 
     
     
         8 . The anatomical model of  claim 6 , wherein the bladder module includes at least one of:
 a 3D representation of a ureter, configured to be capable of carrying a fluid, and configured to simulate an anatomical size, shape, consistency, and feel; or   a 3D representation of a urethra, configured to be capable of carrying a fluid, and configured to simulate an anatomical size, shape, consistency, and feel.   
     
     
         9 . The anatomical model of  claim 3 , comprising a uterine module, including a 3D representation of a uterus, the uterine module including a coupling that is user-attachable and user-detachable from at least one of the anterior module, the posterior module, or the medial module. 
     
     
         10 . The anatomical module of  claim 9 , wherein the uterine module includes:
 a 3D representation of a uterine artery, capable of carrying a fluid, and configured to simulate an anatomical size, shape, consistency, and feel;   a male or female sliding lock coupling, configured to engage a mating female or male sliding lock coupling of the medial module; and   wherein the 3D representation of the uterus is configured to simulate an anatomical size, shape, consistency, and feel.   
     
     
         11 . The anatomical model of  claim 9 , comprising:
 a skin shell, comprising a 3D representation of a vulva, configured to simulate an anatomical size, shape, consistency, and feel; and   a 3D representation of a vagina, configured to extend between the 3D representation of the vulva and including a cervical opening into the 3D representation of the uterus.   
     
     
         12 . The anatomical model of  claim 11 , wherein the skin shell includes an opening sized and shaped to accommodate a pivot coupling between the medial module of the pelvic region structure and a support, when the medial module of the pelvic region structure is located within the skin shell and the support is located outside of the skin shell. 
     
     
         13 . The anatomical model of  claim 3 , comprising a rectal module, including a 3D representation of a rectum, the rectal module including a coupling that is user-attachable and user-detachable from at least one of the anterior module, the posterior module, or the medial module. 
     
     
         14 . The anatomical module of  claim 13 , wherein the rectal module includes:
 the 3D representation of the rectum configured to simulate an anatomical size, shape, consistency, and feel; and   a male or female sliding lock coupling, configured to engage a mating female or male sliding lock coupling of the posterior module.   
     
     
         15 . The anatomical model of  claim 1 , wherein the body component module includes a 3D representation of a sacrospinous ligament. 
     
     
         16 . The anatomical model of  claim 1 , wherein the body component module includes a 3D representation of at least one of a vagina, a cervix, a uterus, a fallopian tube, or an ovary. 
     
     
         17 . The anatomical model of  claim 1 , wherein the body component module is configured to simulate a pathologic condition of a human body component represented by the body component module. 
     
     
         18 . An anatomical model for demonstrating, practicing, or evaluating a human pelvic examination, medical, or surgical procedure or technique, the model comprising:
 a pelvic region structure, comprising three-dimensional (3D) anatomical representations of a pubic bone, a sacrum, a coccyx, and at least one of an ischium or an ilium; and   a user-removable body component module, comprising a 3D anatomical representation of at least one of a human organ, gland, muscle group, nerve, vessel, ligament, tendon, connective tissue, or skin, the body component module configured to be directly or indirectly engaged in substantially correct anatomical relation to the pelvic region structure; and   wherein the pelvic region structure comprises:   at least three separately user-replaceable modules comprising:
 (1) an anterior module, including a 3D representation of a pubic region; 
 (2) a posterior module, including a 3D representation of at least a portion of a sacrum; and 
 (3) a medial module, including a 3D representations of a main bony pelvis comprising at least an iliac crest; and 
   wherein the anterior and posterior modules include respective couplings that are user-attachable and user-detachable from the medial module along respective specified non-anatomical interfaces.   
     
     
         19 . A method of using an anatomical model for demonstrating, practicing, or evaluating a human pelvic examination, medical, or surgical procedure or technique, the model comprising: a pelvic region structure, comprising three-dimensional (3D) anatomical representations of a pubic bone, a sacrum, a coccyx, and at least one of an ischium or an ilium; and a user-removable body component module, comprising a 3D anatomical representation of at least one of a human organ, gland, muscle group, nerve, vessel, ligament, tendon, connective tissue, or skin, the body component module configured to be directly or indirectly engaged in substantially correct anatomical relation to the pelvic region structure, the method comprising:
 allowing a user to perform the human pelvic examination, medical, or surgical procedure or technique; and   replacing the body component module after the user has performed the human pelvic examination, medical, or surgical procedure or technique.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , comprising providing a fluid to the anatomical model.