This project presents an anatomically accurate mannequin designed to enhance the practice of cardiac auscultation in medical education. The mannequin allows students to identify and differentiate heart sounds through a realistic and interactive experience, addressing the limited accessibility and high costs of commercial simulators.

Cardiac auscultation is a fundamental clinical skill, but medical students often have few opportunities to practice it effectively. High-fidelity simulators are expensive and many lack anatomic transparency or compatibility with standard stethoscopes. This mannequin provides an affordable, anatomically guided alternative that enhances both sound recognition and spatial learning.

The mannequin is developed from real anatomical data, segmented and processed in 3D Slicer. The model is cleaned and prepared for 3D printing using PolyJet technology (Stratasys Objet260/500 Connex), which enables high-resolution printing with transparent materials. This transparency allows users to visualize internal thoracic structures while auscultating. Heart sounds, both normal and pathological, are reproduced through loudspeakers integrated in the anatomical auscultation points (aortic, pulmonary, tricuspid and mitral). These sounds are managed by a microcontroller-based system, which can be preprogrammed or manually controlled.

Unlike existing models, this simulator integrates visual, auditory and tactile learning. Its transparent chest wall offers a unique educational advantage, as it helps students understand the correlation between internal anatomy and auscultation points. The use of 3D printing not only reduces costs, but also allows for modular upgrades and easy customization. Its compatibility with traditional stethoscopes ensures realistic practice without the need for specialized equipment.

The mannequin is intended for medical schools, nursing programs and simulation centers. Its lightweight and modular design also makes it suitable for outreach programs or training initiatives. It can be used in individual or group sessions, providing a flexible teaching tool adaptable to a variety of educational programs.

There is a growing demand for affordable, high quality simulation tools in healthcare training. This mannequin fills a gap in the market by offering essential auscultation training features at a significantly lower price point than its commercial counterparts. It is especially valuable for institutions with limited budgets that still need effective clinical training resources.

The mannequin is manufactured using PolyJet 3D printing, with transparent and durable materials for the torso and electronics. This makes it easy to manufacture and maintain. While commercial simulators can cost several thousand dollars, this solution can be manufactured for a fraction of the cost, making it scalable and more affordable.

This cardiac auscultation training mannequin is a novel, feasible and market ready educational tool. Combining anatomical accuracy, realistic heart sounds and cost-effective manufacturing, it enables trainees to acquire fundamental diagnostic skills in an engaging and practical way.