Innov2Learn Repurposes Expired Medical Devices Into Realistic Vital Sign Simulators

Canadian-based healthcare simulation company Innov2Learn continues to expand its line of impressive vital sign simulators, with the launch of a new program to repurpose expired medical devices. With products ranging from simulated thermometers to simulated oximeters and simulated glucometers, Innov2Learn’s training tools can be immediately deployed in clinical simulation programs to dramatically increase the realism for learners taking vital signs. Such vital sign simulators are extremely helpful in designing medical simulation experiences that fully immerse the learner into the clinical scenario, maximizing their opportunity to transfer their skills into the professional environment. Here we look at how Innov2Learn is reducing medical device waste while also increasing simulated realism!

Innov2Learn combines technology and education to help healthcare professionals reach their full potential. Since the company’s inception in 2015, Innov2Learn has worked to bring clinical simulations to life through a product line featuring realistic, simulated medical devices.

By developing products that can be controlled remotely via Bluetooth, learners can use the company’s products with computers, tablets, and mobile devices. All of the company’s simulators also work with manikins and standardized patients. Ultimately, Innov2Learn’s goal is to ensure that future generations are best equipped to face the challenges of a career in the healthcare industry. These challenges are met by Innov2Learn’s available customized solutions for reusing and developing equipment.

Innov2Learn currently offers seven high fidelity, user-friendly medical simulation devices:

The New Welch Allyn Spot Vital Signs SPOTV Simulator allows learners to push and show measures directly on their Welch Allyn Spot Vital signs. Systolic, diastolic, heartbeat, oxygen rate, and blood pressure. Learners then connect and send the data. The SPOTV uses a Bluetooth connection, and the learner can control the product remotely with the same app as our other devices. Perfect for simulating scenarios with manikins or simulated patients.

The GLUCO III (Hospital Style Glucometer Simulator) is inspired by the Accu-chek Inform II, a blood glucose meter used in most hospitals in North America. This device is specifically designed for simulation purposes. The GLUCO III will allow learners to simulate a blood glucose (blood sugar level) measurement, using either a low, medium, high-fidelity manikin or even with a simulated (standardized) patient. By using a tablet, cell phone, computer or iPod, learners will be able to send the values to simulate hypoglycemia and/or hyperglycemia. This simulator works with real or expired strips, as well as artificial or no blood at all. The battery lasts for up to four hours.

The OXI (Pharmacy Model Oximeter Simulator) is inspired by the models found in pharmacies. This device is specifically designed for simulation purposes. This product allows learners to simulate an oxygen saturation measurement (blood oxygenation measurement) and a heart rate (pulse) using either a low, medium, high-fidelity manikin or even with a simulated (standardized) patient. By using a tablet, cell phone, computer, or iPod, learners are able to send the values to simulate hypoglycemia and/or hyperglycemia. This simulator works on any kind of fingers, such as human, silicone, rubber or even plastic. The battery lasts up to 24 hours.

Innov2Learn’s THERMO (Hospital Style Thermometer Simulator) product was inspired by the Welch–Allyn Suretemp Plus 390. The company thermometer looks like the actual one used in most hospitals in North America. This device is specifically designed for simulation purposes and allows learners to simulate a temperature measurement. The THERMO product works on a manikin or even with a simulated (standardized) patient. Learners can use a tablet, cellphone, computer, or iPod to send the values to the device. The oral and rectal probes are compatible with Welch-Allyn probe covers.

The company’s MINI-GLUCO (Pharmacy Model – Mini–Gluco Simulator) is inspired by the models found in pharmacies. This device is designed for simulation purposes and allows learners to simulate a blood glucose (blood sugar level) measurement, using either a low, medium, high-fidelity manikin or even with a simulated (standardized) patient. By using a tablet, cell phone, computer, or iPod, learners can send the values to simulate hypoglycemia and/or hyperglycemia. This simulator works with real or expired strips, as well as artificial or no blood at all. The battery lasts up to four hours.

Innov2Learn’s Smart CPR baby device works with Prestan baby manikins to make training more effective and realistic. Manikins are used for skills practice in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) classes. Learners can breathe air into the manikin to practice rescue breathing, and the manikin chest will rise because there is a lung bag (airway) inside. The device works with the manikins and lets the learner know if the compressions they performed are correct, in time and frequency. All the information and statistics of a learner’s work in training are sent to their cell phone, tablet or computer, where learners are given a summary of their work.

The company’s programmable pump can be turned on/off and modified with any Bluetooth–enabled device (cellphone, tablet or PC/MAC). Learners can control the heart rate and flow rate. The device can be used with ultrasound-guided IV phantoms, central line phantoms, IV and ABG trainers, LP trainers and anything else the learner wants to generate pulsatile flow through. If the learner wants to do an experimental setup for customized simulation, this is their tool! They can make any limb on any manikin bleed at the touch of a button. The set includes the pump, IV bag, tubing and fitting so learners can build their own flow setup.

Over the years, the Innov2Learn team has designed and built ten high-quality healthcare simulation devices. They are all exact replicas of the most trusted medical devices out there, praised by hundreds of clients for their high fidelity and user-friendly experience. Clients like Northern Illinois, South Dakota State and Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Universities and distribution partners like YourDesignMedical and Remedy Simulation Group have trusted Innov2Learn for the quality they deliver each and every time.

How Innov2Learn Is Reducing Plastic Waste, One Medical Device at a Time

Each year, medical facilities send hundreds of used medical devices to waste. However, Innov2Learn imagined a world where healthcare professionals and learners could repurpose these devices to mitigate the environmental impact—one device at a time. This is why a company mission is to train the medical teams of tomorrow by providing them with the best medical simulation devices on the market.

Previously, Innov2Learn’s team has used new components to build medical simulation devices, but the team is looking to change these methods to improve sustainability. This is why the company is now calling upon learners and educators to help repurpose faulty, used, or obsolete medical devices to be converted into medical simulators.

The hope is that this initiative will significantly reduce the waste produced each year by the designing, assembling, and disposing of healthcare simulation devices. By extending the current lifetime of such devices, Innov2Learn is looking to reduce the health sector’s massive impact on pollution while bringing costs down for each institution.

“We’re seeing more and more clients ask for greener solutions and environment-friendly options. This is a value that’s shared by our team at Innov2Learn. By repurposing faulty and used devices, we’re helping medical institutions save a significant amount of time and money, and more importantly, we’re all working towards having a positive impact on our planet,” Mike Boutin, CEO and founder of Innov2Learn said. “Why throw away a device when it has become obsolete or faulty? There are so many components in those devices that can be reused to build a high-fidelity medical simulation device. It’s now possible to offer a great training experience to all healthcare professionals while mitigating our negative impact on the environment.”

With a desire to give back to the world’s less fortunate, Innov2Learn has announced that for every 100 devices sold, the company will be shipping a simulation kit to a medical facility in a developing country. Each kit includes three simulation devices: a glucometer, a thermometer and a pulse oximeter (a value of $2,700). With this announcement, Innov2Learn is placing the word “impact” at the center of the company’s mission by focusing on creating a positive impact on both the planet and those in need. Join their movement and be part of the solution!

Learn More on the Innov2Learn Website!