This simulated cervical tissue replicates lesions and other abnormalities, providing a useful tool for training practitioners at taking biopsies while performing colposcopies. During a colposcopy, a doctor may need to take biopsies of abnormal cells in a woman’s cervix. In the United States, it is estimated that practitioners perform at least 1.2 million colposcopies annually, and of these, 6 out of 10 women will require biopsies. Standard colposcopy training tools for nurses, physician assistant students, medical students, etc., do not effectively improve cervical biopsy skills.
Researchers at the University of Florida have created a cervical model with tissue that simulates abnormalities to improve the biopsy skills of practitioners. Simulated lesions appear as bright spots upon illumination by the colposcope. The number and locations of the simulated lesions will vary so that it mimics a real cervix with abnormal cells. The simulated cervical tissue secures easily onto GYN-specific trainers, such as the Gaumard® ZOE.
Improving cervical biopsy skills with a cervical tissue model that works with available GYN-specific trainers
This simulated cervical tissue secures into available GYN-specific training tools to facilitate better training for cervical examinations and biopsies. The simulated cervical tissue is made of polymers, and when illuminated by the colposcope, bright spots appear on it that simulate lesions. The simulated lesions on the cervical tissue can vary by number and position, allowing a biopsy to have various degrees of difficulty. Trainees can remove the lesions on the simulated cervical tissue using cervical biopsy forceps. Once all the lesions have been removed, the tissue can detach from the GYN training tool and be recycled. This model comes as a kit of six simulated cervices with varying difficulty.