High-Tech Prostate Exam Simulator

(Photo: Rob Delaney)

For the hobbyist or the medical student, the go-to gadget for prostate exam simulation is this device invented by Dr. Benjamin Lok. It’s a lot more than just a plastic model. It’s a whole virtual environment. The user has to talk through the process of examining the patient, who is named Patrick. He talks back and expresses to the examiner how he’s feeling about it. It's like the medical profession's version of the Kobayashi Maru test.

The mannequin itself has sensors inside that measure the pressure used by the student. So the examiner gets feedback in real time. Glen Tickle of Geekosystem interviewed Dr. Lok about his invention. You can read it here.