US 12,462,708 B2
Training simulator for direct laryngoscopy
Steven L. Orebaugh, Pittsburgh, PA (US); and James V. Snyder, Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Assigned to University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Appl. No. 18/565,421
Filed by University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, Pittsburgh, PA (US)
PCT Filed Aug. 31, 2022, PCT No. PCT/US2022/042233
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 29, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/034433, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 9, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/239,299, filed on Aug. 31, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0257665 A1, Aug. 1, 2024
Int. Cl. G09B 23/28 (2006.01); G09B 23/32 (2006.01); G09B 23/34 (2006.01)
CPC G09B 23/285 (2013.01) [G09B 23/32 (2013.01); G09B 23/34 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A laryngoscopy training simulator comprising:
a somatic skeleton comprising a skull portion and a spine portion coupled to the skull portion, the skull portion having a styloid process and a mandible and the spine portion having a plurality of vertebra arranged in a column, wherein the skull portion and the spine portion are configured to curve between an extended position and a flexed position; and
an airway skeleton comprising a hyoid bone, a first ligament coupling the hyoid bone to the styloid process of the skull portion, and a second ligament coupling the hyoid bone to the mandible of the skull portion;
wherein when the skull and spine portions are in the extended position, the first ligament is under tension and draws the hyoid bone in a first direction and when the skull and spine portions are in the flexed position, the second ligament is under tension and draws the hyoid bone in a second direction;
wherein the training simulator is configured to simulate hyoid bone movement relative to the spine and skull portions in a similar manner as the human anatomy.