An Interactive Endotracheal Suctioning Simulator Which Exhibits Vital Reactions: ESTE-SIM

Abstract

This paper describes a next-generation nursing education simulator, the endotracheal suctioning training environment simulator (ESTE-SIM), which is capable of interactively reproducing vital reactions. With the spread of home treatment, care providers who have received a certain level of nursing education should be increased, not limited to conventional health-care professionals. A great gap exists between simulations under restricted conditions that have been practiced in conventional nursing education and those in the actual clinical site, thus creating a burden on nurses and patients. If a simulator that approaches real clinical situations can be developed, it will not only contribute to lessening the burden on nurses but also improve the quality of nursing care. The ESTE-SIM, which simulates endotracheal suctioning, can measure the movements of the suction catheter inserted in the trachea. The measurement information is used to estimate the progress of the nursing maneuver, which is then used to reproduce vital reactions, including dynamic facial expression changes based on projection mapping and monitor-displayed vital signs. To design and control the vital reactions, a mathematical model to determine the behavior of the simulator is formulated based on the actual measurement data of the vital reactions of patients and the experiential knowledge of nurses. By integrating these element technologies, we developed a novel interactive nursing education simulator capable of recreating typical vital reactions that occur during the basic endotracheal suctioning maneuver.

Construction of a detachable artificial trachea model for three age groups for use in an endotracheal suctioning training environment simulator

“…We developed and operated the endotracheal suctioning training environment simulator (ESTE-SIM) which uses interactive vital reactions to change the patient’s condition according to the operator’s procedure ( Fig 1 ) [ 10 ]. In this system, it is possible to measure the movement of the suction catheter inserted in the trachea during training, and to study the interactive vital reactions which include not only the monitor-displayed vital signs, but also the real time facial expressions of the patient.…”

“…In this system, it is possible to measure the movement of the suction catheter inserted in the trachea during training, and to study the interactive vital reactions which include not only the monitor-displayed vital signs, but also the real time facial expressions of the patient. This is done through projection mapping based on the actual measurement data of the vital reactions of patients as well as the experimental knowledge of nurses [ 10 ]. The artificial trachea model constructed in this study is implemented in ESTE-SIM.…”

“…based on the actual measurement data of the vital reactions of patients as well as the experimental knowledge of nurses [10]. The artificial trachea model constructed in this study is implemented in ESTE-SIM.…”

“…Further, these conventional simulation systems had only one trachea model. The ESTE-SIM is a very compact simulation system which allows easy attachment and detachment of trachea models [8][9][10][11], that facilitates the preparation of multiple trachea models. The main objective of this study was to construct a trachea model for…”

“…Simulation education has been attracting attention as an effective way to teach appropriate tracheal suctioning techniques that involve validated principles and rationale [8,9]. Recently, a simulator has been developed which can quantitatively detect catheter operation in the respiratory tract model [10,11].…”