Project Description:

During their education, medical students are trained in gynecological procedures like the Pap smear and bimanual exam, which are used to examine female pelvic anatomy, detect early signs of cervical cancer, and assess overall female reproductive health. The majority of students and institutions are not given the opportunity to learn the necessary skills using live volunteers, instead relying on simulation models that require institutions to spend egregious resources for low-quality products. The current simulation models are unrealistic and do not accurately mimic the female pelvic environment, anatomy, or elasticity. Thus, these models do not prepare medical students for real clinical settings. One of the major flaws is the representation of the force necessary to perform the exams. With a thick plastic model, it is easy for novice professionals to apply significantly more pressure than needed on a patient. Once faced with a patient for the first time, it creates a larger learning gap regarding safely navigating the female pelvic region.
To address this problem, the team made a more realistic and cost-effective female pelvic model that will allow medical professionals to perform more accurate Pap smears and bimanual exams. Our invention features anatomically accurate internal and external genitalia, mimics natural tissue elasticity, and represents the diversity of women’s healthcare. The model will enhance the future of patient care within the realm of gynecology.
This engineered solution aims to improve the transfer of skills from training to clinical settings, enhancing confidence in novice medical professionals and providing comfortable patient care. If implemented in 60% of U.S. medical institutions using simulation tools, it could impact over 650,000 graduates annually, replacing outdated models and revolutionizing training for routine, necessary procedures.