Wounded Willy and Damaged Debbie at Imaging Solutions

The concept of grouping a large number of casualties in two teaching/training phantoms was originated by the Fleet Hospital & Operations Training Center in Camp Pendleton, California. Wounded Willy & Damaged Debbie were designed and constructed by RSD.

These phantoms yield radiographs resembling those of a human body with human technical factors and limited artifacts, articulated to enable basic views to be presented, and with an appropriate level of human anatomy. They are well-balanced patient substitutes for basic training of radiologic technologists, particularly in military or emergency room environments.

Both Willy & Debbie demonstrate and evaluate positioning and imaging techniques, including kVp, mAs, contrast, optical density, OFD and TFD. Their radiographs are optically equivalent to humans in density and contrast.

Applications

Field trauma & ER evaluation of technologist performance
Teaching & training of patient positioning
Image quality
Diagnostic radiology
Dosimetry verification
Protocol verification

Modalities

CT
X-Ray
Fluoroscopy

Anatomy

Shoulders have ball and socket joints
Elbows and knees flex 90° to 100°
Broad range of positioning capabilities, including the “frog position”
Debbie features fractures of the left shoulder and left hip plus arm and leg traumas on the right side
Willy features traumas of both arms and legs

Product Differences

Aside from gender differences, the most obvious difference between Willy & Debbie is in the complement of traumas and pathologies assigned to each. Debbie is fitted with a wig, while Willy is bald. They are dressed in camos for military training and in jumpsuits for civilian training.

Realism of Traumas and Pathologies

“There is no single, unique description of any of their traumas and pathologies. Rather, there are limitless variations among a broad range of casualties. The most meaningful judgments of the realism of trauma and pathologies are those based on long radiographic experience across the spectrum of casualties.” — Patrick Hale, Senior Radiologic Technologist at the UCLA Emergency Room and an RSD consultant, made those judgments with respect to Willy and Debbie.

Dimensions

At 5’ 1” (156 cm) tall, weighing 105 lbs (48 kg), Willy & Debbie match the size and weight of RSD’s Take-Apart Pixy. Technologists must learn to work with patients of all sizes and weights, so a smaller adult-size phantom is as valid for training as a larger phantom, and position is facilitated.

Lungs

Lungs are molded of durable materials with radiodensities matched to humans in a median respiratory state. Animal lungs matching the human in size and blood vessels are available, but they are oriented towards research rather than training.

Soft Tissues

Willy & Debbie have solid “soft tissues” that are hard and rigid. They cannot be palpated to locate traumas. However, radiological technologists are generally informed by the physician as to the views to be taken. The manual provides this information to instructors.

Skeletons

RSD-manufactured skeletons are used rather than natural human skeletons. The latter are generally unavailable and usually consist of an assortment of bones ranging from children to adults of ages, for which osteoporosis becomes a factor.

RSD skeletons are not to be confused with plastic skeletons for teaching anatomy. RSD skeletons are made to fit the soft-tissue molds precisely. They have spongiosa moldings within marrow cavities and outer, cortical bone. Both constituents meet the internationally accepted standards for radiodensity and specific gravity.

Neck

While anatomic fidelity and the ability to move the head into a broad range of views is required in radiography, no mechanism can be designed for intervertebral motion without artifacts obliterating the radiographs. This problem has been solved by the use of two necks. One is a multi-articulated polycarbonate assembly which provides for nearly all commonly used views. There is no attempt at radiographic realism in this neck. An alternate, fully realistic neck is interchangeable with the mechanical neck. The cervical spine of this neck contains traumas.

Model Numbers