Paediatric Spinal Injection Simulator
Spinal injections are commonly required procedures to remove fluid to carry out biochemical, microbiological and cytobiological tests and also for drug delivery. Medical students and practitioners are unable to practice the spinal injection procedure on cadavers, nor can they practice on patients due to the serious danger of spinal injury. Therefore when the procedure has to be carried out, there is ever a risk of injury to the patient. A physical simulator is essential to develop the skills of medical practitioners. This device provides accurate spine articulation, mimics human tissue properties and enables realistic touch/feel and spinal fluid removal feedback to the practitioner.
The simulator assembly could be inserted into the back of a commercially available paediatric manikin.
Key Benefits
- Artificial materials mimicking the biomechanical properties of tissue layers and ligaments in the spinal region
- Four spinal vertebra, geometrically accurate representations of the paediatric spine (2 – 11 years old)
- Spinal fluid carrier in the subarachnoid space
- Offset support rods to provide realistic curvature of the spine
Applications
- The key customers for the device are teaching hospitals and medical schools. There are 32 medical schools in the UK and over 300 Europe wide. In the USA and Canada there are over 140 AAMC accredited Medical Schools.
- The materials which comprise the tissue layers on the simulator, although robust, will wear out over time due to repeated injections, therefore this will create an ongoing demand for replacement units from teaching hospitals and Medical Schools.
IP Status
An academic prototype device has been created and a GB patent application exists for this device:
‘Medical demonstration device and method for operating a medical demonstration device’ - GB 0807830.5
The University of Glasgow now wish to engage with an industrial partner to develop the next generation prototype system and carry out further tests. We would like to identify a company interested in the license, development, manufacture and marketing of the Spinal Injection Simulator.
If you would like further information about
this opportunity please fill out the form below. Your enquiry will
be passed on to the relevant University who will respond to you directly.
