MEDICAL DEMONSTRATION APPARATUS

Abstract: A medical demonstration apparatus (1) adapted for indicating cardiac exertion. The apparatus (1) comprises an elastically and recoverably deformable hollow bulb (3) in the shape of a heart. The bulb (3) is connected via a connector (4) and tube (5) to a manometer (2) which is used to indicate blood pressure. The bulb (3) is able to be squeezed to indicate the cardiac exertion required to reach a predetermined pressure as indicated on the manometer (2).

Description: MEDICAL DEMONSTRATION APPARATUS The present invention relates to medical demonstration apparatus and particularly discloses apparatus that provides an indication of cardiac exertion. BACKGROUND ART There exists a number of difficulties for the medical practitioner involved in treating patients suffering from high blood pressure. One major problem is an absence of noticeable symptoms. Thus convincing the patient of the existence of the illness and educating the patient in altering his life style and/or taking a course of medication in order to lessen, or substantially eliminate the condition can often be difficult. Especially where there are language and/or educative barriers. As persons suffering from high blood pressure do not generally feel any symptoms, not only do they not feel the need to start a course of medication prescribed by the medical practitioner, but they also do not feel the need to continue. In addition, once a course of medication has been started, the patient does not necessarily feel any improvement and therefore this normal incentive to continue with the medication is absent. It has been known to use a partially inflated cuff of a sphyg omanometer to demonstrate the increased force required to emulate patient's blood pressure. However this is a static demonstration using n device which is in fact purpose-built to measure blood pressure; it is in practice rarely used for aforementioned demonstration purposes. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome, or ameliorate, the abovementioned problems through provision of a medicπl demonstration apparatus that assists in educating a patient by demonstrating levels of cardiac exertion. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention there is disclosed a medical demonstration apparatus adapted for indicating cardiac exertion, said apparatus comprising an elastically and recoverably deformable hollow bulb including a one-way valve for re-inflating said bulb to atmospheric pressure, said bulb having an outlet leading to a manometer, whereby upon squeezing said bulb said apparatus provides an indication of the cardiac exertion required to reach a predetermined pressure as indicated by said manometer. As will be described, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is specifically designed as a visual and tactile interactive simulation device whose purpose is primarily to impart the concepts of blood pressure, cardiac exertion and peripheral resistance. Thus: it is visually reinforcing (it can be a model of a human heart); it demonstrates the effect of drug and other therapy on peripheral resistance; it demonstrates the influence of heart rate; it demonstrates the relationship between elevated diastolic blood pressure on producing extra-vascular coronary resistance; it demonstrates pulsatile pressure; it is best used as a dynamic model, requiring repeated application of pressure to maintain the desired effect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the medical demonstration apparatus of a first embodiment; Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the medical demonstration apparatus of Fig 1 when pressure is applied; Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the medical demonstration apparatus of Fig. 1 when pressure is released, Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the medical demonstration apparatus illustrating the heart shaped bulb and its base. Fig. 5 is a detailed view of the connection between the heart shaped bulb and its base,and Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view along the lines VI-VI of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of the medical demonstration apparatus of a second embodiment, Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of the medical demonstration apparatus of Fig. 7 when pressure is applied, and Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of the medical demonstration apparatus of Fig. 7 when pressure is released. BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring to Figs. 1-3, the medical demonstration apparatus comprises a manometer 2 and a bulb 3. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the bull ) 3 is connected via a connector 4. The connector 4 is illustrated in 5 schematic form in Figs. 1-3 and the manometer 2 is connected to the connector 4 by a tube 5 as illustrated in Figs. 1-3. Referring to Fig. 4, the bulb 3 is made from a moulded plastics material and is preferably coloured and shaped to resemble a human heart. The bulb 3 has a single opening 6 which sealing fits over a 10 ringed flange 7 of an inlet 8 of the connector 4. When the bulb 3 is squeezed and then released, air is forced out of and into the bulb 3 accordingly. The connector 4 (as illustrated in Figs. 4-6) includes a base 10 through which an internal tube 11 passes to an outlet 12. The inlet 8 15 and outlet 12 are thus able to communicate through the connector 4 for passing of air therethrough. The connector 4 includes an annular aperture 13 located at the inlet 8. The aperture 13 communicates with a pipe 19 which is received in one end of the internal tube 11. The annular aperture 13 and the pipe 20 19 communicate by a one way flap valve 9. The annular aperture 13 also is connected to a first restrictor 14 which communicates with a chamber 16 within the connector 4. The chamber 16 is open to the atmosphere. The connector 4 also includes a second aperture 17 which communicates with a second restrictor 15 into the chamber 16 which is 25 open to atmosphere. A second one-way valve 18 prevents air from passing from the bulb 3 to the chamber 16 but allows air from the chamber 16 to pass into the valve in parallel with the first restrictor 14. The operation of the apparatus is as follows. The patient commences manually squeezing the bulb 3 to create pressure on the 30 manometer 2. The air passes through the annular aperture 13 via the one way flap valve 15 and into the internal tube 11 and out of the outlet 12 into the tube 5 to the manometer 2. At the same time, air passes vie the annular aperture 13 through the first restrictor 14 into the chamber 16 and thence into atmosphere. Also at the same time, air passes through 5 the aperture 17 through the second restrictor 15 into the chamber 16 and thence into atmosphere. When the bulb 3 is released the air returns Into the bulb 3 simultaneously via the second valve 18 and second restrictor 15 while the air in the tube 5 is bled to atmosphere via the first restrictor 14 via the chamber 16. 5 A pumping action on the heart shaped bulb 3 causes a normal cyclical "blood" pressure reading indicated on the manometer 2. For exa ple, manometer 2 reading cycling between 70 and 130mm Hg. From this, the patient gauges the normal requirements of cardiac exertion through the effort required to squeeze the bulb 3 as well as the indicator 10 pressure on the manometer 2. The patient can vary the frequency of squeezing and the pressure applied to the bulb to experience the exertion required to simulate higher blood pressure readings. The pumping action of the squeezing of the bulb 3, ensures further 15 air being allowed into the bulb 3 while the air in the tube is bled through the first restrictor 14. The reading on the manometer 2 can be maintained according to the frequency and pressure of the squeezing of the bulb 3. Referring to Figs. 7-9, connector 104 is illustrated in a differenl ' 20 schematic form. The connector 104 includes a first one way valve 109 and second restrictor 115. The second restrictor 114 is open to the interior of the bulb 103. The second one way valve 118 and the first restrictor 115 are positioned the same way. The difference with the embodiment is how the air is bled from the manometer 102 back to the bulb 103. 25 INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY There are also numerous other advantages associated with the use of the apparatus 1. For example, the greater perception of the disease on the part of a patient lessens any resistance for accepting treatment and life style adjustments. Also, the patient is better able to 30 conceptualize the positive effects of treatment, which is usually by means of a course of medication. Further, the patient learns to associate the lowering of blood pressure with the lessening of grip pressure required to operate the apparatus 1 and is therefore better able to accept possible adverse reactions to the therapy. 5 . The apparatus 1 provides a convenient and inexpensive way of communicating a complex medical issue between the medical practitioner and the patient. The use of the apparatus 1 also provides for a number of advantages to the general public as it can be used in medical and nursing training as well as in general improving community awareness of the problems of high blood pressure and hypertension. As such, morbidity and mortality rates can be lowered. The medical practitioner also obtains a number of advantages from the use of the apparatus 1 in that its use provides for a basis for the return of the patient for increased monitoring of the condition and the opportunity to diagnose other diseases. Also 1t provides for the opportunity to assess other risk factors (besides possibly increasing revenue for the the medical practitioner). The use of the apparatus 1 saves time and provides an attractive alternative to other methods of communicating what can be, at times, mundane and non-challenging subject matter. It will also be understood, that the apparatus 1 can be used to overcome language barriers as its demonstration requires lessened explanation. The apparatus 1 can be easily adapted by those skilled in the art for a variety of other supplementary uses. For example, the optional valve 7 is included so that the bulb 3 can be used as a sphygmomano eter bulb as known in the art. Also, the apparatus 1 can be used to demonstrate the concept of pulse, the functions of the heart, heart- anatomy, showing the problems associated with heart by-pass, demonstrate coronary occlusion as well as demonstrating problems associated with angina. The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention and other embodiments, obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims: CLAIMS : 1. A medical demonstration apparatus adapted for indicating cardiac exertion, said apparatus comprising an elastically and recoverably deformable hollow bulb including a one-way valve for 5 re-inflating said bulb to atmospheric pressure, said bulb having an outlet leading to a manometer, whereby upon squeezing said bulb said apparatus provides an indication of the cardiac exertion required to reach a predetermined pressure as indicated by said manometer. 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bulb is 10 connected to said manometer via a second one way valve, with a restrictoi located in the line, wherein air returning from said manometer does nol re-enter said bulb but passes into atmosphere via said restrictor. 3. The apparatus as claimed in clam 2 wherein a second restrictor is connection outlet side of said one way valve and returns air to 15 atmosphere. 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bulb is connected to said manometer via a second one way valve, with a restrictor located in the line and opening into said bulb, wherein air returning from said manometer is able to return to re-enter said bulb. " 20 5. A medical demonstration apparatus adapted for indicating cardiac exertion, said apparatus being substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1-6 or 7-9 of the accompanying drawings. 25 30 5

Inventors: FUTCHER ROBERT WILLIAM, ORR GRAHAM FREDERICK, FUTCHER, ROBERT, WILLIAM, ORR, GRAHAM, FREDERICK
Applicants: TICCA PTY LTD, TICCA PTY. LTD.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: G09B23
IPC codes: A61B5, G09B23