A simple teaching device for examination of the arterial and venous pulse

Abstract

A simple teaching device is described for examination of the cervical arterial and venous pulses. It is a mechanical device that simultaneously generates a visible jugular venous pulsation and a palpable carotid arterial pulsation to train medical students, physicians, and paramedical personnel. Changing of cams allows the observer to appreciate these pulsations in the normal or in a variety of abnormal states. Graphic tracings of wave forms demonstrate the accuracy of reproduction of physiologic tracings. In a test of the device, cardiologists performed significantly better than medical students in the identification of unknown pulsations. The instrument is readily accepted, simple to operate, and fully portable.