This disclosure relates generally to anatomical simulations and, more particularly, relates to simulating movements of human body parts for educational, medical, and other demonstrative and observational uses and purposes.
Demonstrating and observing anatomical movements of human body parts can be useful in many settings. Educators, musicians, singers, actors, performers, clinicians, students, and patients, as well as perhaps others, may find it beneficial to demonstrate and observe body parts as the body parts normally function and move during different activities. For instance, understanding the physiology of breathing and the anatomy of sound can be central to producing high quality musical tones in woodwind instruments like the flute. Movements related to a diaphragm and vocal folds may hence be particularly worthwhile to aspiring musicians amid their education and lessons. Other examples include the demonstration of body part movements for medical students in training.
Previous efforts to demonstrate movements of human body parts, such as the lungs and diaphragm for musicians, have involved physically touching a student's chest in an educational setting, and have involved displaying the movements on a video screen. These efforts, while sufficient in some regards, have become culturally inappropriate in the case of physical touching, and may lack the instructive impact desired.
According to an aspect of the disclosure, a method of simulating anatomical movements may have several steps. The method may involve providing one or more additive-manufactured body part models. The additive-manufactured body part model(s) anatomically approximates a corresponding physical body part subject to the modeling. The method may further involve effecting movement of the additive-manufactured body part model(s). The effected movement replicates physiologically normal movement of the corresponding physical body part.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, an anatomical movement simulation assembly may include a first additive-manufactured body part model, a second additive-manufactured body part model, and an actuator. The first additive-manufactured body part model may exhibit substantial anatomical accuracy with respect to a corresponding first physical body part subject to the modeling. The second additive-manufactured body part model may exhibit substantial anatomical accuracy with respect to a corresponding second physical body part subject to the modeling. The actuator may interact with the first additive-manufactured body part model. Upon actuation of the actuator, the first additive-manufactured body part model moves with respect to the second additive-manufactured body part model. The second additive-manufactured body part model remains static during the movement of the first additive-manufactured body part model.
Exemplary embodiments will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements, and wherein:
Embodiments of an anatomical movement simulation assembly and of a method of simulating anatomical movements are presented. One or more additive-manufactured body part models are employed in the larger assembly and amid use of the method, according to the embodiments. The additive-manufactured body part model(s) can be made to anatomically approximate a corresponding physical human body part(s) that is subject to the rendered representation, or the additive-manufactured body part model(s) can exhibit substantial anatomical accuracy relative to the corresponding physical human body part(s). Unlike past efforts, the movement simulated is meant to reproduce physiologically normal and healthy and accurate functioning of the corresponding physical human body part(s). Depending on the embodiment, the anatomical movement simulation assembly can take the form of a toolkit that is more readily accessible for certain users and in certain applications, such as for professors and teachers in an educational setting. The anatomical movement simulation assembly and accompanying method are suitable in a wide range of applications including, but not limited to, education, training, rehabilitation, speech therapy, military, and other demonstrative and observational purposes. Educators, musicians, singers, actors, performers, students, doctors, clinicians, trainers, speech and language pathologists, occupational therapists, and soldiers, are among those that may find ready use of the anatomical movement simulation assembly and method described herein.
As used herein, and for purposes of describing anatomical accuracy, the term “substantially” is intended to account for the inherent degree of variance and imprecision that is often attributed to, and often accompanies, any design and manufacturing process, including engineering tolerances. In this regard, the phrase “substantial anatomical accuracy” does not mean modeling physical human body parts with strict exactitude.
The anatomical movement simulation assembly and accompanying method can vary in different embodiments depending upon—among other possible factors—the particular physical body part for which a model is rendered, and the intended movement to be imparted to the additive-manufactured body part model(s). It will become apparent to skilled artisans as this description advances that the assembly could have more, less, and/or different components than those set forth with reference to the figures, and that the method could have more, less, and/or different steps than those described herein.
The controller 12 serves as a user input for regulating operation and movement of the additive-manufactured body part model 16. Depending on the embodiment, the user may activate (i.e., ON) and deactivate (i.e., OFF) the movement of the additive-manufactured body part model 16 via the controller 12, and may speed or slow the pace of the movement of the additive-manufactured body part model 16 via the controller 12. Command signals may be sent from the controller 12 and to the actuator 14. The controller 12 can take different forms in different embodiments. In the embodiment of
The actuator 14 can receive command signals from the controller 12, and serves to impart movement to the additive-manufactured body part model 16. The actuator 14 interacts with the additive-manufactured body part model 16 in order to impart the movement. The interaction can involve a fluid line connection in the case of pump actuation, and can involve a mechanical connection with intermediate components in the case of motor actuation. The actuator 14 can take different forms in different embodiments, its form being dictated in part by the additive-manufactured body part model 16 and the movement to be imparted by it. In the embodiment of
The additive-manufactured body part model 16 is a rendered representation of a corresponding physical human body part. The rendered representation is designed and constructed to anatomically approximate the corresponding physical human body part, or can exhibit substantial anatomical accuracy with respect to the corresponding physical human body part. The approximation and substantial accuracy described here is in terms of geometry, size, and shape relative to the corresponding physical human body part; is in terms of movement of the corresponding physical human body part (i.e., where movement is applicable); and can be in terms of position and orientation with respect to adjacent body parts. In different embodiments, the corresponding physical human body part could be an organ, a muscle, a bone, or some other part of the human body. Further, the additive-manufactured body part model 16 is made by an additive manufacturing fabrication process such as a three-dimensional (3D) printing process. In one embodiment, a stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing process is employed to prepare the additive-manufactured body part model 16. In another embodiment, a fused deposition modeling 3D printing process is employed to prepare the additive-manufactured body part model 16. Still, other additive manufacturing technologies and techniques can be carried out in other embodiments. The additive-manufactured body part model 16 can take different forms. In the embodiment of
According to the embodiment of the figures, the lungs model 30 is inserted and received within the rib cage model 28, as illustrated in
In use, according to this embodiment, the lungs model 30 and the diaphragm model 32 are moveable upon actuation with respect to the rib cage model 28. The rib cage model 28 remains static in comparison to the movement of the lungs and diaphragm models 30, 32, and itself is not actuatable for imparting movement. Maintaining reference to
The movement imparted and simulated is intended to reproduce and emulate physiologically normal, healthy, and substantially accurate functioning and movement of the particular corresponding physical human body part subject to the modeling. The simulated movement replicates normal movement and behavior observed in a human body. In the embodiment of the figures, for instance, the inflation and deflation and attendant expansion and contraction movements of the lungs model 30 reproduce the physiologically normal inhalation and exhalation movements of the corresponding human lungs subject to the modeling. In the example here, the properties of the rubber material of the lungs model 30 facilitates the replication. Likewise, the outward and inward movement, and downward and upward movement, of the diaphragm model 32 reproduces the physiologically normal inferior and superior movements of the corresponding human diaphragm subject to the modeling.
With reference now to
Still, the anatomical movement simulation assembly 10 has other designs, constructions, and components in other embodiments. In a first alternative embodiment, the additive-manufactured body part model 16 is in the form of an assemblage of models: a tongue model and a jaw and teeth model. The tongue model anatomically approximates a corresponding human tongue subject to the modeling at least in terms of its geometry, size, and shape, as well as in terms of its movability and its position and orientation relative to the jaw and teeth model. Moreover, the tongue model can exhibit substantial anatomical accuracy with respect to the corresponding human tongue. Similarly, the jaw and teeth model anatomically approximates a corresponding human jaw and teeth subject to the modeling at least in terms of its geometry, size, and shape, and can exhibit substantial anatomical accuracy with respect to the corresponding human jaw and teeth. In use, according to this first alternative embodiment, the tongue model is moveable upon actuation with respect to the jaw and teeth model. The tongue model can move forward and rearward relative to the jaw and teeth model, can move upward and downward relative to the jaw and teeth model, or the movement can be a blended movement of forward and rearward and upward and downward movements. The tongue model could also move side-to-side. Actuation per this embodiment can occur via pump actuation, motor actuation, or manual actuation. Furthermore, as in previous embodiments, the movements of the tongue model are intended to reproduce and emulate the physiologically normal movements of the corresponding human tongue subject to the modeling. Moreover, in a somewhat related embodiment, a lips model could also be provided in addition to, or in lieu of, one or more of the tongue model and jaw and teeth model; the assemblage of models here could be employed to produce speech-like sounds amid their use.
In a second alternative embodiment, the additive-manufactured body part model 16 is in the form of an assemblage of models: a vocal folds model (also called vocal cords) and a larynx model (also called a voice box). The vocal folds model anatomically approximates a corresponding human vocal folds subject to the modeling at least in terms of its geometry, size, and shape, as well as in terms of its movability and its position and orientation relative to the larynx model. Moreover, the vocal folds model can exhibit substantial anatomical accuracy with respect to the corresponding human vocal folds. Similarly, the larynx model anatomically approximates a corresponding human larynx subject to the modeling at least in terms of its geometry, size, and shape, and can exhibit substantial anatomical accuracy with respect to the corresponding human larynx. In use, according to this second alternative embodiment, the vocal folds model is moveable upon actuation with respect to the larynx model. The vocal folds model can open and close relative to the larynx model. Actuation per this embodiment can occur via pump actuation or motor actuation. Furthermore, as in previous embodiments, the movements of the vocal folds model are intended to reproduce and emulate the physiologically normal movements of the corresponding human vocal folds subject to the modeling. The physiologically normal movements of the corresponding human vocal folds can involve an undulated and wavelike motion.
Lastly, the additive-manufactured body part model 16 can be in the form of a neck model, a wrist model, a hand with fingers model, an ankle model, a foot with toes model, a knee model, a hip model, an elbow model, and a shoulder model.
It is to be understood that the foregoing description is of one or more preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention. The invention is not limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed herein, but rather is defined solely by the claims below. Furthermore, the statements contained in the foregoing description relate to particular embodiments and are not to be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention or on the definition of terms used in the claims, except where a term or phrase is expressly defined above. Various other embodiments and various changes and modifications to the disclosed embodiment(s) will become apparent to those skilled in the art. All such other embodiments, changes, and modifications are intended to come within the scope of the appended claims.
As used in this specification and claims, the terms “for example,” “e.g.,” “for instance,” and “such as,” and the verbs “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and their other verb forms, when used in conjunction with a listing of one or more components or other items, are each to be construed as open-ended, meaning that the listing is not to be considered as excluding other, additional components or items. Other terms are to be construed using their broadest reasonable meaning unless they are used in a context that requires a different interpretation.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63311562 | Feb 2022 | US |