The CardioSim is an unparalleled system for teaching heart sounds. It allows complete control over heart rate (50-240 bpm). Individual clicks, snaps or murmurs can be added or removed to allow the student to learn every element of a sound - one part at a time. For example, if listening to mitral stenosis, initially the student hears just the first and second heart sound. Then an opening snap is added. Once familiar with this, a middiastolic murmur is added followed by presystolic accentuation. If regurgitation is desired, a blowing holosystolic murmur is added. By adding and taking out murmurs, clicks or other sounds, the student is able to learn one part of the sound complex at a time. As a result, they learn quickly and retain more.

There are a variety of sounds presented just for timing. For example, in learning the splitting of the second sound, the student first listens to S1 and A2. He/she then adds P2 at different time intervals. Respiration can also be added to show its effect on the splitting.

If listening to mitral valve prolapse, the click can be moved from midsystole to late systole to show the effect of squatting.

Every sound is displayed as a phonocardiogram on a monitor simultaneously with an ECG. A program guide is supplied on the computer screen so the description of the sound is presented simultaneously with sound.

Listening is done with the built-in low frequency speaker or, if desired, with the Cardionics Infrared Sound System.

For giving a lecture, the instructor can preprogram a lecture so that he/she need only press one key to advance from one sound to the next. The system allows for a number of different lectures for each instructor. The CardioSim is programmed in Windows98 and Windows XP. As such, Microsoft Power Point can be used to enhance a presentation and there are a number of slide/images and slide/sound files that are supplied as part of the system that can be added to the lecture in any sequence desired.

The display is a large, 17-inch super VGA color monitor. A large screen projector can be connected easily for group presentations. The system is sold complete and ready to use. It is easy to use for both student and instructor. A trained Cardionics representative always comes in for a training session.

One of the new, interesting features of the CardioSim is the addition of images and animation. There are over 125. For example, in studying mitral stenosis, the student can view a calcified mitral valve or watch an animation of mitral stenosis in a beating heart.