Simulation of the human lung: great success at the European Congress SESAM 2012
20.08.2012 13:20
A year ago, the AQAI Simulation Center Mainz brought its world first to the SESAM conference - the TestChest. This device recreates the extremely complex functioning of the human lung and heart-lung interactions. At this year's European Congress of Medical Simulation in Norway, the finished device and initial further developments by the Mainz experts found great interest among representatives of simulation-based training.
The TestChest is suitable for use in medical education and training where acute and chronic respiratory indications play a role. Since SESAM 2011, development of the device in combination with Laerdal's full-scale SimMan 3G ® has progressed. The specialists at AQAI have also further improved the software package for handling the lung simulator: The intuitive user interface of the advanced software, which is based on graphic symbols, minimizes the training in the learning modules and makes it possible to carry out scenarios that are optimized for progress. The desired learning content can be presented easily and users get the impression that they are treating their patient during the course of therapy.
Ethically problem-free, reproducible results: only through simulation
A second important area of application for the lung simulator is testing medical devices. A university in Switzerland recently purchased a TestChest for testing ventilators. “Two fundamentally conceivable approaches to testing respirators are no longer applicable,” emphasized Prof. Dr. med. Wolfgang Heinrichs, anesthetist and head of the AQAI Simulation Center: “Experiments on humans are unethical, and animal models - especially pigs - are not reproducible...and animal experiments are increasingly viewed as ethically unacceptable. This leaves the simulator as the only usable method.” Simulators, the expert continues, deliver scientifically reproducible results for the defined patient.
“Respirators such as the 'Hamilton S1' do not notice that they are ventilating an artificial lung,” explained Dr. Manuela Güldener. “Our system represents all physiologically relevant values,” continues the physicist and AQAI project manager.
A number of further sales of the impressive device are currently being signed. Discussions are currently taking place with a renowned patient simulator provider about a collaboration regarding sales and a deep integration of the lung simulator software with the TestChest software. “We were surprised by the extremely positive response we received at our stand at SESAM 2012,” summarized Prof. Dr. Heinrichs together; “We therefore see the future of our TestChest very optimistically.” Orders are accepted via AQAI.