Realistic Artificial Soft Tissue for Making Surgical Task Trainers

Simulates the Feel and Responsiveness of Different Human Tissue Layers to Improve the Hand Technique of Surgeons in Training

This simulated soft tissue creates surgical task trainers that allow surgeons to practice the hand techniques required in surgical procedures such as suturing, making incisions, and removing fascia or tumors. Doctors and medical students use anatomical models and surgical simulation techniques to train their manual dexterity before performing surgeries on actual patients. Analysts project the global medical simulation market to reach a value of $3.7 billion by 2025 . Available surgical task trainers do not realistically simulate the material strengths and textures of different layers of actual human soft tissue, such as muscle, skin, or fat.

Researchers at the University of Florida have created a model of simulated soft tissue that replicates the feel and responsiveness of human tissue. The artificial tissue customizes to mimic tissue of different densities, levels of resistance, patient body types, and tumor sizes, forming more realistic experience for doctors and medical students training for surgery.

Application

Realistic soft tissue surgical trainer that better teaches the manual dexterity required for various surgical procedures

Advantages

• Simulates the feel and responsiveness of real human tissue, providing a realistic “patient” for training surgeons
• Responds realistically to manipulation with surgical tools, including scalpels, scissors, forceps, needles, etc., improving manual dexterity in surgical training
• Customizes to model different patient body types or tumor sizes, creating a variety of surgical task trainers
• Uses readily available inexpensive materials, keeping production costs low

Technology

Surgical trainers using the simulated soft tissue will improve training for doctors and medical students, which will improve patient experience during actual surgery. For techniques requiring significant dexterity, such as suturing, making incisions, and removing fascia or tumors, trainees will practice on the simulated soft tissue before going into the operating room to perform surgery on patients. The artificial tissue simulates the different layers of human tissue including skin, fat, and muscles, forming surgical models that have the same feel and responsiveness of human tissue and that react realistically to cutting, clamping, piercing, fastening, etc. The simulated tissue is adaptable to different shapes and thicknesses, creating surgical models that enable medical professionals to practice on difficult areas. For example, areas around the neck require much precision due to the closeness of the trachea, esophagus, thyroid, etc.