The high demand for inpatient surgical procedures has been exasperated by a lack of opportunities for surgical residents to gain experience. There is also a limited supply of physiologically relevant model systems for surgical residents to augment current education. As such, there is a significant unmet need to create bio-realistic trainers for surgeons to develop these critical skill sets. This project focuses on developing a bio-realistic trainer of the upper right quadrant of the abdomen, to specifically teach a laparoscopic right colectomy. The aim of the project was to create a synthetic colon, kidney, liver, mesentery, small intestine, and stomach that emulate the material and mechanical properties of these organs and could fit inside a box trainer. Organs were isolated from a 3D rendering of an abdomen using Computed Tomography (CT) scans in Vesalius 3D software (PS-Medtech). Molds were developed using mesh software such as Blender (Blender Foundation) and Meshmixer (Autodesk); the molds were 3D printed in Polylactic Acid (PLA) and were then injection molded with silicone elastomers of varying hardness to create each organ. To determine which synthetic materials to cast with, mechanical testing including tensile and puncture tests were conducted on porcine tissues. This data was analyzed and compared to synthetic materials to determine which would provide similar mechanical properties to the tissue. The team created a standardized procedure to create full bio-realistic organs from reference CT scans. This procedure can be used to bring the device to production and improve surgical residency training programs and patient outcomes around the world.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Hardy, Lauren
• Yatim, Mazen
• Palumbo, Eliana
• Burkhardt, Emma

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042722-145106
• 64431

Keyword

• plastics and synthetics
• surgical trainer
• injection molding
• bio-realism

Advisor

• Sullivan, John M.
• Pins, George D

Year

• 2022

Sponsor

• Dr. Thomas Cataldo: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Date created

• 2022-04-27

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biomedical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright