Medical Students Can Practice Prostate Exams on Patrick the Robotic Butt

To help medical students administer prostate examinations the Universities of Florida, Drexel and Wisconsin developed new technology to help students hone their skills. It’s a robotic ‘butt’ named Patrick.

Medical students say the test, for them, can be nerve wracking so ‘Patrick’ is equipped with four sensors to let students know if they are applying to proper pressure. ‘Patrick’ will inform them if they are too soft or neglected to cover the whole prostate.

They say ‘Patrick’ is perfect for practicing technique and bedside manner. There aren’t enough opportunities for students to practice, which causes them a lot of anxiety. Now they can practice on ‘Patrick’, the robotic ‘butt’.

kqed.org