About PAT
The Palpation and Adjustment Trainer
PAT is a lifelike training mannequin we developed to help teach skills in spinal palpation and manipulation. Think of it as a fusion of a crash-test dummy and a CPR chest compression trainer.
Download a 9-page flyer: Flyer
Published article: Development of a Mannequin Lab for Clinical Training in a Chiropractic Program
Pressure Sensor Array
PAT has an array of 64 pressure sensors attached directly to landmark locations on the skull, vertebrae and pelvis. The array is calibrated to produce levels of sensitivity appropriate for palpation of humans.
Pressure Feedback
Custom built electronics constantly scan the sensor array and produce a pressure map on a screen. The sensor location labels can be shown on the computer screen for training, or hidden for testing. Each sensor shows a gradient of color to indicate the amount of pressure applied.
Compliance Testing
We subjected PAT to compliance testing. The vertebrae and pelvis are freely moveable and can be displaced with direct pressure. The Lumbar spine stiffness is right in the range measured in humans using similar testing methods -- 9-12 Newtons force produces 1 mm of displacement. An early thoracic spine model showed human-like compliance as well.
Published article: Mechanical properties of a thoracic spine mannequin with variable stiffness control
