Abstract:
An anatomical training apparatus secures a body organ for demonstrating and training a surgical procedure on a body organ. Tubes extend from apertures in a base to orifices in the body organ to stabilize the body organ for surgical training. Training heart surgery is further improved by extending tubes to veins and arteries to not only stabilize the heart for demonstrating surgical techniques, but for forcing fluids to flow through the heart during the training.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/704,821, having filing date of Sep. 24, 2012, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety and commonly owned. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to medical training devices and in particular to stabilizing a body organ for demonstrating a surgical procedure. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    It is desirable that an isolated organ, such as a dead heart, lung, kidney, liver, and the like be immobilized for presentation and possible dissection. By way of example, current methods of such organ immobilization typically require help from an assistant. The dead organ is typically placed in a container or nails used to attach the organ to a supporting surface. Further, it is well known to use a dead organ, such as a pig&#39;s heart, in demonstrating operation thereof by connecting conduit to ports of the hearth and pumping fluid through the heart in a controlled manner to simulate a reenactment of its operation. However, such methods and apparatus have several disadvantages, including deformation of the organ at the attachment sites, difficulty of manipulation, and undesirable instability of the immobilized organ during presentation or dissection. There is a need for a convenient positioning and stabilization of a variety of organs, thereby enabling the use of both hands when demonstrating or teaching surgical techniques on a mounted organ. 
         [0004]    Models of body organs are well known. Most models a manufactured from a rigid plastic and may be displayed by mounting the plastic organ to a base using a peg or post. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,407 discloses anatomically correct artificial organ replicas for use as teaching aids. Body organs, by their very nature, are flexible and deformable and thus require more that the mounting techniques typically provided by models. 
         [0005]    While various devices are known to aid in surgical procedures, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,221,743 to Thompson for a system and apparatus for positioning and securing surgical implements; U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,746 to Wright for a local cardiac immobilization surgical device; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,936,002 to Kochamba et al. for a stabilizing tissue method and apparatus, those dedicated to teaching surgical methods typically resort to supports, such as the nailing above described. 
         [0006]    As is well understood, surgical skills are required by a wide range of health care professionals. Simulators have provided realistic learning environments. Improvements in processors have resulted in improved simulators within health care education. However, it is appreciated by those in the art that simulation must be joined with clinical practices. 
         [0007]    As published in the Journal of Trauma (2008 November; 65(5): 1093-4) by Ahmed et al. of the Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical care, Department of Surgery, Huron Hospital, Cleveland Clinic health System for “Multiple Organ procurement: A Tool for Teaching Operative Techniques if Major Vascular Control,” the reduction in work hours and time for operative training of residents, particularly for major vascular exposure and control, supplemental education experience id needed. Participation in multiple organ procurement (MOP) may correct this deficiency. Senior residents were given a written quiz before and after transplantation rotation and participation in MOP, for knowledge in operative exposure of great vessels of the abdomen and chest. Twenty residents, with an average of six organ retrievals per resident, showed significant improvement in surgical knowledge of vascular exposure and control after transplantation, showing that participation in MOP increases a resident&#39;s familiarity with anatomy and operative technique for expeditious exposure of the major vessels. 
         [0008]    There remains a need for an organ holding and immobilizing apparatus for positioning, displaying and stabilizing an organ for demonstrating and teaching surgical procedures. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    Embodiments of the present invention are directed to demonstrating and teaching surgical techniques on body parts, which by way of example may comprise body organs such as a heart, liver or the like, severed from an animal or human body. An apparatus according to the teachings of the present invention may a base and arms, wherein each arm includes a proximal end fixed to the base. Each arm is adapted for connecting to a portion of a body part for removably securing the body part to the base. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment according to the teachings of the present invention, the base may comprise a plurality of apertures extending therethrough. Each arm may comprise an elongate tube. When training for surgery on a body organ, the tubes may extend from the apertures in the base to orifices in the body organ for stabilizing the body organ for the surgery. Connectors may secure ends of the tube to the base. Yet further, connectors may directly connect the base to the body part, as desired. A flow controller may be operable with the tubes for controlling fluid flow therethrough. 
         [0011]    By way of example, the training process for training heart surgery may be further improved by extending tubes to veins and arteries to not only stabilize the heart for demonstrating surgical techniques, but for forcing fluids to flow through the heart during the training. 
         [0012]    A method aspect of the invention may comprise teaching a surgical procedure on a body organ by providing a body part from at least one of an animal and a human. Connecting a distal end of one arm to a first portion of the body part, connecting a distal end of the second arm to a second portion of the body part, and securing proximal ends of the first and second arms to a base to stabilize the body part for performing surgery thereon. 
         [0013]    Yet further, the arms may comprise tubes connected to orifices of the body part. Fluid may be forced through the tubes and thus the body part, such as a heart to permit a surgical procedure on the heart while fluid is passing therethrough, thus closely simulating a surgical procedure on a live body. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    Embodiments of the invention are described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of one embodiment of an apparatus according to the teachings of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional illustration of one embodiment of a connector illustrated in use with the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a left side perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  illustrating a heart generally suspended above a base for operation thereon; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a front elevation view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  illustrating a heart secured to a base while being positioned thereon; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of  FIG. 1  for providing support to a dead organ being secured for demonstrating a surgical procedure, by way of example; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C are top plan, side elevation and end elevation views, respectively, of the cradle embodiment of  FIG. 5 , herein illustrated by way of example; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a cradle useful with the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 5  for providing additional support to a dead organ; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 6A ,  6 B and  6 C are top plan, side elevation and end elevation views, respectively, of the cradle embodiment of  FIG. 6 , herein illustrated by way of example; 
           [0023]      FIGS. 7 and 8  are perspective views of supporting arms of differing dimension and illustrated herein with reference to  FIG. 5 , by way of example; 
           [0024]      FIGS. 7A ,  7 B,  7 C and  8 A,  8 B,  8 C are top plan, side elevation and front elevation views, of the supporting arms of  FIGS. 7 and 8 , respectively; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a platform attachment useful in providing an axial rotation adjustment to the supporting arms, as illustrated by way of example with reference to  FIG. 5  and its related views; and 
           [0026]      FIGS. 9A ,  9 B and  9 C are top plan, side and end views, respectively, of the embodiments of  FIG. 9 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0027]    The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown by way of illustration and example. This invention may, however, be embodied in many forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numerals refer to like elements. 
         [0028]    With reference initially to  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of the invention comprises an anatomical training apparatus  10  having a base  12  and supporting arms  14 , each supporting arm herein described as having a proximal end  16  fixed to the base, and each arm moveable for connecting its distal end  18  to a body part  20 , such as the dead heart herein illustrated by way of example. For the embodiment illustrated with reference to  FIG. 1 , the body part  20  is a human heart having been removed from a human body for teaching surgical procedures. It will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that other body parts may be used, such as a lung, or portions of body organs from human or animal bodies. As illustrated with continued reference to  FIG. 1 , four arms  14 A,  14 B,  14 C,  14 D are used to removably secure the heart  20  to the base  12 . As herein illustrated with reference to  FIG. 1 , the arms  14  comprise flexible plastic tubing. Alternatively, a rigid arm structure may be employed while keeping within the teachings of the present invention, as will be described by way of example later in this disclosure. 
         [0029]    With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , for the embodiment herein described by way of example, the base  12  comprises a plurality of apertures  22  extending through the base, such as in well-known pegboard material. Further for an embodiment herein described by way of example, each arm  14  includes a flexible tube portion. A connector  24  extends into the aperture  22  and the proximal end  16  of the arm  14  and is secured to the connector. The connector  24 , herein described by way of example in one embodiment with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , comprises a peg  26  extending into the aperture  22 , wherein the peg is secured to a platform  28  which contacts a surface  30  of the base  12  for enhancing stability of the peg when placed into the aperture, as further illustrated with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
         [0030]    With continued reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the connector  24 , herein described by way of example, comprises an orifice  32  extending through the peg  26 . The combination of the tube  14  and the peg  26  having the orifice  32  permits fluid flow, illustrated using arrows  34 , and a flow controller  36  to control the fluid flow  34  through the arms  14  including the flexible tubular portion and thus through the heart  20 , as may be desired. 
         [0031]    To further provide an example for use of the apparatus  10  in holding the organ  20 , such as the heart, and immobilizing the heart for positioning, displaying and stabilizing it for demonstrating and teaching surgical procedures, reference is again made to  FIG. 1 , wherein the arm  14  includes a first arm  14 A having its distal end  18  attached to a first port  40 , herein the superior vena cava of the human heart  20 . The arm, a second arm  14 B, is attached to a second port  42  of the heart  20 , herein the inferior vena cava, by way of example. The distal ends  18  extend into the orifices of the veins  40 ,  42  and are secured to the veins using a tie string or clamp  44 , by way of example. The proximal ends  16  of the arms  14 A,  14 B are each connected to their respective pegs  26 , and as illustrated with reference again to  FIG. 2  may be secured to the pegs using the tie string or clamp  44 . Optionally, the proximal and distal ends  16 ,  18  of the arms  14  may comprise grooves  46  to enhance the securing by the tie strings  44 . 
         [0032]    As will come to the mind of those skilled in the art, differing means of connecting the arms  14  to the base  12  and to the body part  20  may be utilized without departing from the teachings of the present invention. By way of example, the arms  14  may be dimension for being inserted directly into the apertures  22  at the arm proximal ends  16 . 
         [0033]    By way of further example, and with continued reference to  FIG. 1 , third and fourth arms  14 C,  14 D are connected as above described, but to third and fourth ports  48 ,  50 , herein right and left pulmonary arteries. With such as arrangement, the fluid flow  34  may be controlled to have flow into the first and second arms  14 A,  14 B and out of the third and fourth arms  14 C,  14 D, thus simulating flow into the heart  20  through the veins and out through the arteries. As further illustrated with reference to  FIG. 1 , unused ports  52  may are preferably closed. 
         [0034]    As illustrated with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , as will come to the mind of those skilled in the art, now having the benefit of the teachings of the present invention, the body part  20  being stabilized for a surgical demonstration may be stabilized as desired, including suspending the body part in a spaced relation to the base  12 , as illustrated with reference to the perspective view of  FIG. 3  or having a portion thereof resting upon the base  12  in frictional contact therewith, as illustrated with reference to the elevation view of  FIG. 4 . 
         [0035]    With reference now to  FIG. 5 , and to its related views of  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C, and in keeping with the teachings of the present invention, an alternate embodiment of the apparatus  10  for providing support to the dead organ  20  comprises use of a cradle  54 , further illustrated with reference to  FIG. 6  and related views of  FIGS. 6A ,  6 B and  6 C. The cradle  54  is removably attached to the base  12  using posts  56  frictionally secured into the apertures  22  within the base  12 . The supporting surface  58  for receiving the organ  20  may be contoured as desired. 
         [0036]    With continued reference to  FIG. 5  and related views of  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C, the connector  24  operable with the arms  14  include an angled rigid portion  24 R, as illustrated with reference to  FIG. 7  and its related views of  FIGS. 7A ,  7 B and  7 C. By way of example,  FIGS. 7 and 8  are perspective views of the connector  24  is rigid and includes an angled portion  24 R, wherein differing height dimensions  60 A,  60 B are illustrated, by way of example.  FIGS. 8A ,  8 B and  8 C are related views of  FIG. 8 . As illustrated with reference again to  FIGS. 5 ,  5 A,  5 B and  5 C, the organ ports  40 ,  42 ,  48 ,  50  may be connected directly to the connector  24  or optionally use a flexible tube portion  14 F may be used. As illustrated with reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , and their related views, grooves  46  may be employed using the tie string  44  or suture earlier described with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
         [0037]    While use of a pegboard styled base  12  has proven to be practical and cost effective, especially when the apparatus may be discarded after a teaching demonstration, it may be advantageous to have an expanded incremental adjustment when positioning the connectors  24  having the structure described with reference to  FIGS. 5 ,  7  and  8 . To allow for an increased incremental rotational movement of the rigid connector  24 , a rotational adjustment plate  62  may be employed, as illustrated with reference again to  FIG. 5  and to  FIGS. 9 ,  9 A,  9 B and  9 C. Rather than the peg  26  with the connector  24  being inserted into the aperture  22  of the base  12 , the plate  62  is attached to the base  12  using pegs  26  extending therefrom and frictionally inserting the pegs into the appropriate apertures  22  as may be desired. The rigid angled connector  24  is then inserted into an aperture  22 P within the plate  62  and the platform  28 , illustrated with reference again to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , is rotated to allow a post  56  extending from a bottom surface of the platform  28  to be inserted into one of a plurality of holes  64  positioned within the plate  62  to secure the arm portion  24 R in a preselected rotational position as desired. 
         [0038]    With reference again to  FIG. 5 , by way of example, the ports  40 ,  42  may be directly connected to distal ends  24 D of the connector  24 , as desired. As further illustrated with continued referee to  FIG. 5 , arms  14  may be included in the connection of the distal ends  24 D to the ports  48 ,  50 , as may be desired for securing the body organ  20  for a preselected surgical demonstration. Yet further, the arm portion  24 R of the connector may be angled, as herein described by way of example, or be formed having a straight axis, as earlier illustrated with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2  without departing form the teachings of the present invention. 
         [0039]    By way of further example with regard to teaching surgical procedures on the heart  20 , multiple arms  14  will be attached to multiple organ ports  40 ,  42 ,  48 ,  50 , which ports may be selected based on a procedure being taught. The following provides examples of various connections to stabilize various portions of the heart depending upon the selected surgical procedure. 
         [0040]    For a surgical procedure directed to an atrial septal defect, the tubes  14  may preferably include the superior vena cava tube  14 A, the inferior vena cava tube  14 B, the pulmonary vein tubes  14 C,  14 D, as above described with reference to  FIG. 1 , and further an ascending aorta tube (not shown). Now having the benefit of the teachings of the invention, those of skill in the art will appreciate the benefits of stabilizing a real body part for demonstrating a surgical procedure. The heart has been presented by way of example because of its many options. However, teachings surgical procedures or simply displaying real body parts will benefit as well. 
         [0041]    With regard to the human heart, and by way of yet further example, for a surgical procedure directed to an ventricular septal defect, the tubes to be connected may include, an inferior vena cava tube, a superior vena cava tube, an ascending aorta tube, a main pulmonary veins tubes, and a left pulmonary veins tubes. For a surgical procedure directed to a mitral valve annuloplasty, the tubes to be connected may include an inferior vena cava tube, a superior vena cava tube, an ascending aorta tube, a main pulmonary artery tube, a right pulmonary veins tubes, and a left pulmonary veins tubes. For a surgical procedure directed to a mitral valve replacement, the tubes to be connected may include an inferior vena cava tube, a superior vena cava tube, an ascending aorta tube, a main pulmonary artery tube, a right pulmonary vein tube, and a left pulmonary vein tube. For a surgical procedure directed to a tricuspid valve annuloplasty, the tubes to be connected may include an inferior vena cava tube, a superior vena cava tube, an ascending aorta tube, a main pulmonary artery tube, a right pulmonary vein tube, and a left pulmonary vein tube. For a surgical procedure directed to a tricuspid valve replacement, the tubes to be connected may include an inferior vena cava tube, a superior vena cava tube, an ascending aorta tube, a main pulmonary artery tube, a right pulmonary vein tube, and a left pulmonary vein tube. For a surgical procedure directed to a ventricular aneurysm defect, the tubes to be connected may include an inferior vena cava tube, a superior vena cava tube, an innominate artery tube, a left carotid artery tube, a main pulmonary artery tube, a right pulmonary vein tube (as desired), and a left pulmonary vein tube (as desired). For a surgical procedure directed to an aortic valve replacement defect, the tubes to be connected may include an inferior vena cava tube, a superior vena cava tube, an innominate artery tube, a left carotid artery tube, a main pulmonary artery tube, a right pulmonary vein tube (as desired), and a left pulmonary vein tube (as desired). For a pulmonary valve replacement defect, the tubes to be connected may include an inferior vena cava tube, a superior vena cava tube, an ascending aorta tube, a right pulmonary artery tube, a left pulmonary artery tube, a right pulmonary vein tube (as desired), and a left pulmonary vein tube (as desired). For a surgical procedure directed to a MAZE procedure defect, the tubes to be connected may include an inferior vena cava tube, a superior vena cava tube, an ascending aorta tube, a main pulmonary artery tube, a right pulmonary vein tube, and a left pulmonary vein tube. For a surgical procedure directed to a coronary artery bypass grafting defect, the tubes to be connected may include an inferior vena cava tube, a superior vena cava tube, an innominate artery tube, a left carotid artery tube, a main pulmonary artery tube, a right pulmonary veins tubes, and a left pulmonary vein tube. For a surgical procedure directed to an atrial switch defect, the tubes to be connected may include an inferior vena cava tube, a superior vena cava tube, an innominate artery tube, a left carotid artery tube, a right pulmonary artery tube, a left pulmonary artery tube, a right pulmonary vein tube (as desired), and a left pulmonary vein tube (as desired). For a surgical procedure directed to a systemic to pulmonary artery shunts defect, the tubes to be connected may include an inferior vena cava tube, a superior vena cava tube, an innominate artery tube, a left carotid artery tube, a right pulmonary artery tube, a left pulmonary artery tube, a right pulmonary vein tube (as desired), and a left pulmonary vein tube (as desired). For a surgical procedure directed to a ross operation defect, the tubes to be connected may include an inferior vena cava tube, a superior vena cava tube, an innominate artery tube, a left carotid artery tube, a right pulmonary artery tube, a left pulmonary artery tube, a right pulmonary vein tube (as desired), and a left pulmonary vein tube (as desired). For a surgical procedure directed to a transverse arch and descending aortic operations defect, the tubes to be connected may include an inferior vena cava tube, a superior vena cava tube, an innominate artery tube, a left carotid artery tube, a left subclavian artery tube, a descending aorta tube, a main pulmonary artery tube, a right pulmonary vein tube (as desired), and a left pulmonary vein tube (as desired). 
         [0042]    Although the invention has been described relative to various selected embodiments herein presented by way of example, there are numerous variations and modifications that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the claims hereto attached and supported by this specification, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.