A novel patient simulator that generates artificial vital signs

Abstract

We have developed a patient simulator that can generate artificial vital signs. The simulator enables medical trainees to measure heart rate and arterial oxygen saturation by pulse oximeter (SpO2), which are generated according to a mathematical cardiorespiratory model in response to resuscitation procedures. The artificial-vital-sign generator uses a biological model based on an inverse structure of a pulse oximeter probe. The red and infrared light-emitting diodes in the artificial-vital-sign generator produce pulsatile light signals with the simulated SpO2 and heart rate, which can be measured by a commercially available pulse oximeter. In this paper, we describe the development of the cardiorespiratory mathematical model and the artificial-vital-sign generator.