Communications of the ACM
Epidural Simulator Developed By Bu and Poole Hospital Will Help Reduce Risk of Harm to Patients
A new epidural simulator uses software to mimic the conditions of giving an epidural injection, allowing for adjustments for different heights, BMIs, angles, and rotations of the spine.
Credit: Limbs & Things USA
Researchers at Bournemouth University and Poole Hospital are developing an epidural simulator to aid in training doctors to perform epidurals and increase patient safety.
The simulator uses software to mimic the conditions of giving an epidural, allowing adjustments for different heights, BMIs, angles, and rotations of the spine.
"I developed the simulator because there is a need to provide precise training in a delicate clinical procedure which has potential devastating effects to the mother when things go wrong," says Poole Hospital's Michael Wee, who developed the simulator with others from the hospital and Bournemouth University School of Design. "A high-fidelity epidural simulator will help to reduce the learning curve and thereby improve the success of epidurals whilst reducing potential harm to the mothers."
The project has garnered international attention and is shortlisted for several notable awards, including the National Patient Safety Awards 2013 and the Design of Medical Devices International Student Design Showcase 2013.
From Bournemouth University (United Kingdom)
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