Design and Construction of a Mechanical Model of Thorax

This article presents the results of the investigation in progress, about a device designed to simulate the thoracic region for ultrasonic inspection purposes. It is oriented to simulate healthy cases and conditions as well as cases with illnesses. Focused on pleural effusion that occurs when the pleural membranes separate because of different causes, although it should be noted that the device could simulate another ailment. Different pathologies can cause pleural effusion and, since the pleural cavity is an area of difficult access, it is necessary to take preventive measures preventing harming the patient and avoiding risky processes such as thoracocentesis or biopsies, being able to obtain rapid diagnoses to reduce the risk. The system comprises two essential parts, the first where a phantom of muscle and pleura is coupled to simulate the thoracic cavity and the second, the movement mechanism that simulates the separation of the pleural membranes. As a result, a portable, light, and a suitable device was obtained to perform ultrasonic analysis with a resolution of 0.01mm.