DEVICE FOR PRACTICING AND LEARNING A TREATMENT

Abstract

A practice device for practicing and learning a medical treatment of a human being may include a torso support and a practice torso arranged on the torso support. The torso support may be arranged on a first adjustment device such that the torso support is adjustable in an adjustment direction.

Claims

1. A device for at least one of practicing and learning a medical treatment, comprising: a torso support; and a practice torso arranged on the torso support; wherein the torso support is arranged on a first adjustment device such that the torso support is adjustable in an adjustment direction.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising at least two holding elements configured to hold the torso support, which, the at least two holding elements arranged at a distance from each other in the adjustment direction.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the at least two holding elements are arranged underneath the first adjustment device in a direction of gravity.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein: the torso support includes an engagement element interactable with at least one of the at least two holding elements; the at least two holding elements include an insertion opening through which the engagement element is insertable into the at least one of the at least two holding elements; and the at least two holding elements include at least one holding face extending transversely with respect to the adjustment direction to at least limit movement of the engagement element in the adjustment direction when the engagement element is inserted into the at least one of the at least two holding elements.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a utility support arranged on a second adjustment device such that the utility support is adjustable in the adjustment direction.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the utility support is configured to carry medical tools.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the utility support is arranged on a first side of the practice torso when in a left-hander position, and arranged on a second side of the practice torso when in a right-hander position, the second side opposite the first side.

8. The device according to claim 5, wherein the first adjustment device is arranged above the second adjustment device in a direction of gravity.

9. The device according to claim 5, wherein: the first adjustment device and the second adjustment device each include a rail defining the adjustment direction; and the first adjustment device and the second adjustment device each include at least one slide element arranged on the respective rail and adjustable along the respective rail in the adjustment direction.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the rail of the first adjustment device and the rail of the second adjustment device are arranged substantially parallel to each other.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first adjustment device includes an adjustment path having a length which amounts to at least 60% of a width of the practice device.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the torso support is pivotable about a pivot axis.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the practice torso is a replication of at least part of a body of a living thing.

14. A method for adapting a device between two positions, comprising: providing a practice device including a practice torso arranged on a torso support, the torso support arranged on a first adjustment device such that the torso support is adjustable in an adjustment direction, and a utility support arranged on a second adjustment device such that the utility support is adjustable in the adjustment direction, wherein when viewing a front aspect of the practice device the utility support is arranged to the left of the torso support when in a left-hander position and the utility support is arranged to the right of the torso support when in a right-hander position; and moving the torso support along the adjustment direction past the utility support to change between the left-hander position and the right-hander position.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein moving the torso support includes first pivoting the torso support about a pivot axis and thereafter moving the torso support past the utility support.

16. The device according to claim 12, wherein the pivot axis extends substantially parallel to the adjustment direction.

17. The device according to claim 13, wherein the living thing is a human being.

18. The device according to claim 9, further comprising at least two holding elements configured to hold the torso support, the at least two holding elements arranged at a distance from each other in the adjustment direction.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein: the torso support includes an engagement element interactable with at least one of the at least two holding elements; the at least two holding elements include an insertion opening through which the engagement element is insertable into the at least one of the at least two holding elements; and the at least two holding elements include at least one holding face extending transversely with respect to the adjustment direction to at least limit movement of the engagement element in the adjustment direction when the engagement element is inserted into at least one of the at least two holding elements.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein the torso support is pivotable about a pivot axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] In the drawings, in each case schematically:

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a diagram of a practice device in a left-hander position,

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a diagram of a practice device in a right-hander position,

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view along the section plane A-A from FIG. 1,

[0033] FIG. 4 shows a view corresponding to FIG. 3, wherein a torso support is pivoted,

[0034] FIG. 5 shows a view of the region B from FIG. 1, wherein an engagement element is not inserted in a holding element, and

[0035] FIG. 6 shows a view corresponding to FIG. 5, wherein the engagement element is inserted in the holding element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] An embodiment of a practice device 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 is used to train medical students, i.e. to help them practice and learn a treatment of a human being. The practice device 10 has a torso support 12 and a practice torso 14 which is arranged on the torso support 12. Moreover, the practice device 10 has a first adjustment device 22, on which the torso support 12 is held. By means of the first adjustment device 22, the torso support 12 is adjustable in an adjustment direction 20. Furthermore, the practice device 10 has an utility support 16, which is held on a second adjustment device 18 and which is likewise adjustable in the adjustment direction 20 by means of the second adjustment device 18.

[0037] Preferably, the two adjustment devices 18 and 22 each have a rail 21, which rails 21 define the adjustment direction 20. The rails 21 can be arranged parallel to each other, such that the adjustment direction 20 is the same for both adjustment devices 18 and 22.

[0038] Moreover, the adjustment devices 18 and 22 each have at least one slide element 23, for example a carriage, which is held so as to be movable along the respective rail 21. The torso support 12 and the utility support 16 are in turn held on the slide elements 23.

[0039] The length of the rails 21 is chosen such that at least the first adjustment device 22, on which the torso support 12 is adjustably held, permits an adjustment path which substantially covers a width of the practice device 10. In particular, the length of the adjustment path is at least 60%, preferably 80%, of the width of the practice device 10.

[0040] The utility support 16 carries utilities that are necessary for the treatment, for example tools, in particular medical tools. In the case of a dental treatment, these are, for example, drills, aspirators or the like.

[0041] The practice torso 14 is a replication of at least part of a body of a human being. For example, the practice torso 14 comprises a replication of a head, in particular with a lifelike replication of the dentition.

[0042] Particularly when practicing a dental treatment, it is important how the utility support 16 is arranged relative to the practice torso 14. Depending on whether the person providing the treatment or the person practicing is left-handed or right-handed, the utility support 16 has to be arranged on one or other side of the practice torso 14. FIG. 1 shows an example of a left-hander position 24. FIG. 2 shows an example of a right-hander position 26. In the left-hander position 24 shown in FIG. 1, the person practicing can use the left hand to remove the utilities from the utility support 16 and can likewise use the left hand to guide the utilities or tool to the practice torso 14 in order to practice the treatment. Correspondingly, in the right-hander position 26 shown in FIG. 2, a right-handed person can use the right hand to remove utilities or tools from the utility support 16 and guide them to the practice torso 14.

[0043] In order to fix the torso support 12 and thus the practice torso 14 in the left-hander position 24 or in the right-hander position 26, at least two holding elements 28 are provided, with which the torso support 12 can be held in the corresponding position. The holding elements 28 have an insertion opening 30 through which an engagement element 32 can be inserted into the holding elements 28. Furthermore, the holding elements 28 have a holding face 34 which extends transversely with respect to the adjustment direction 20, such that the holding face forms an abutment and, consequently, the engagement element 32, when inserted into the corresponding holding element 28, is blocked in its movement perpendicularly with respect to the holding face 34, i.e. in the adjustment direction 20. The holding elements 28 designed in this way can thus fix the engagement element 32 in its position.

[0044] The engagement element 32 is arranged on the torso support 12, such that the torso support 12 can be fixed in the left-hander position 24 and the right-hander position 26 via the engagement element 32 and the holding elements 28.

[0045] As is shown by way of example in FIGS. 3 and 4, the torso support 12 is held pivotably on the first adjustment device 22, such that the torso support 12 is pivotable about a pivot axis 36. The pivot axis 36 is preferably substantially parallel to the adjustment direction 20. This allows the utility support 16 to be guided past the torso support 12 and also allows the engagement element 32 to be inserted into and removed from the holding elements 28.

[0046] As can be seen from FIG. 3 for example, the utility support 16 and the torso support 12 would not pass each other in the adjustment direction 20. Therefore, the outward pivoting as shown by way of example in FIG. 4 is necessary in order to guide the torso support 12 and practice torso 14 past the utility support 16. A compact structure of the practice device 10 can thus be achieved.

[0047] The guiding of the engagement element 32 into and out of the holding elements 28 is likewise effected by the pivoting movement about the pivot axis 36, as is shown by way of example in FIGS. 5 and 6. In the position shown in FIG. 5, the engagement element 32 is not inserted into the holding element 28. In the position shown in FIG. 6, the engagement element 32 is inserted into the holding element 28. The holding face 34 thus blocks the movement of the engagement element 32 in the adjustment direction 20.

[0048] Overall, the pivoting about the pivot axis 36 and the first adjustment device 22 permits a change-over between the left-hander position 24 and the right-hander position 26 without use of a tool. The torso support 12 can simply be lifted, i.e. pivoted, and guided past the utility support 16. During the pivoting back, the engagement element 32 can be inserted into the holding element 28 and, accordingly, the corresponding position of the torso support 12 can be fixed.

[0049] A practice device 10 is thus obtained which can be adapted very easily to different persons. This is of great advantage particularly in teaching, for example at universities for aspiring physicians.