The full-sized mannequin is in demand because medicine is rapidly abandoning the ethically questionable centuries-old tradition of using patients as guinea pigs, turning instead to high-tech simulations.

The Institute of Medicine estimates that as many as 98,000 U.S. patients die annually from preventable medical errors. Obviously, it's better to make a mistake on a $20,000 robot than a live patient -- Other companies make lifelike mannequins to train paramedics in emergencies, but Noelle appears to be the only high-tech, pregnant model available. Noelle models range from a $3,200 basic version to a $20,000 computerized Noelle that best approximates a live birth.