US-12626614-B2 - Soft tissue surgical task trainer

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a simulated tissue useful as a surgical training aid, the simulated tissue including at least the following: (a) a skin layer, (b) a fat layer, (c) a muscle layer, (d) a first mesh, (e) an interstitial layer, (f) a second mesh, (g) a structural layer incorporating one or more anatomical components, and (h) a base layer. Methods for constructing the simulated tissue are also disclosed. The simulated tissues described herein can be used as a soft tissue surgical task trainer for numerous surgical procedures.

Inventors

• Savanna MAHN
• Ceri BORDE
• Brian B. Hughley

Assignees

• UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20210505

Claims (18)

1. 1 . A simulated tissue comprising a. a skin layer comprising a first surface and second surface, wherein the skin layer comprises a silicone rubber and a tactile modifier; b. a fat layer comprising a first surface and second surface, wherein the first surface of the fat layer is adjacent to the second surface of the skin layer, and wherein the fat layer comprises a silicone rubber and a tactile modifier; c. a muscle layer comprising a first surface and second surface, wherein the first surface of the muscle layer is adjacent to the second surface of the fat layer, and wherein the muscle layer comprises a silicone rubber; d. a first mesh comprising a first surface and second surface, wherein the first surface of the first mesh is adjacent to the second surface of the muscle layer, wherein the first mesh is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of a nylon, polyester, polypropylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyurethane, polyethylene, a vinyl coated polyester, and a thermoplastic elastomer; e. an interstitial layer comprising a first surface and second surface, wherein the first surface of the interstitial layer is adjacent to the second surface of the first mesh, and wherein the interstitial layer comprises a silicone rubber and a tactile modifier; f. a second mesh comprising a first surface and second surface, wherein the first surface of the second mesh is adjacent to the second surface of the interstitial layer, wherein the second mesh is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of a nylon, polyester, polypropylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyurethane, polyethylene, a vinyl coated polyester, and a thermoplastic elastomer; g. a structural layer comprising one or more anatomical components adjacent to the second surface of the second mesh; and h. a base layer comprising a first surface and second surface, wherein the first surface of the base layer is adjacent to the structural layer, and wherein the base layer comprises a silicone rubber.
2. 2 . The simulated tissue of claim 1 , wherein the skin layer has a thickness of from 0.1 cm to 1 cm.
3. 3 . The simulated tissue of claim 1 , wherein the skin layer comprises a mixture of silicone rubber and tactile modifier in a ratio of from 1:1 to 4:1 by volume.
4. 4 . The simulated tissue of claim 1 , wherein the skin layer further comprises a flesh-toned pigment.
5. 5 . The simulated tissue of claim 1 , wherein the fat layer has a thickness of from 0.25 cm to 2 cm.
6. 6 . The simulated tissue of claim 1 , wherein the fat layer comprises a mixture of silicone rubber and tactile modifier in a ratio of from 2:1 to 1:2 by volume.
7. 7 . The simulated tissue of claim 1 , wherein the fat layer further comprises a yellow-toned pigment.
8. 8 . The simulated tissue of claim 1 , wherein the muscle layer has a thickness of from 0.1 cm to 1.5 cm.
9. 9 . The simulated tissue of claim 1 , wherein the muscle layer further comprises a tactile modifier.
10. 10 . The simulated tissue of claim 1 , wherein the muscle layer further comprises a red-toned pigment.
11. 11 . The simulated tissue of claim 1 , wherein the interstitial layer has a thickness of from 0.2 cm to 1 cm.
12. 12 . The simulated tissue of claim 1 , wherein the interstitial layer comprises a mixture of silicone rubber and tactile modifier in a ratio of from 2:1 to 1:2 by volume.
13. 13 . The simulated tissue of claim 1 , wherein the anatomical components are adhered to the second surface of the second mesh with a mixture comprising a silicone rubber and tactile modifier.
14. 14 . The simulated tissue of claim 13 , wherein the silicone rubber and tactile modifier are present in a ratio of from 2:1 to 1:2 by volume.
15. 15 . The simulated tissue of claim 13 , wherein the mixture comprising a silicone rubber and tactile modifier further comprises a white-toned pigment.
16. 16 . The simulated tissue of claim 1 , wherein the anatomical component comprises a vein, an organ, a tumor, a bone, a duct, or any combination thereof.
17. 17 . The simulated tissue of claim 1 , wherein the structural layer has a thickness of from 0.5 cm to 5 cm and the base layer has a thickness of from 0.2 cm to 1.5 cm.
18. 18 . The simulated tissue of claim 1 , wherein the base layer further comprises a flesh-toned pigment.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is the 35 U.S.C. § 371 national stage of PCT application having serial number PCT/US2021/030774, filed on May 5, 2021, which claims priority to U.S. provisional application entitled “SOFT TISSUE SURGICAL TASK TRAINER,” having Ser. No. 63/020,588 filed on May 6, 2020, which are entirely incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND Doctors and medical students are subjected to extensive training in any new surgical technique before practicing the same on human patients. Any such training method should involve the use of the same tools that would be employed during an actual surgery on a patient including, but not limited to, scalpels, scissors, forceps, clamps, needles and suture, retractors, suction instruments, staplers and clips, and other instruments. Furthermore, any such training method must account for differences in human anatomy. For example, tumors can have different sizes, locations, and levels of vascularization; patients can have different body weights as well as different thicknesses of subcutaneous muscle and fat; and so forth. Thus, an ideal surgical training aid should be customizable to mimic different patient body types and different tumor sizes, among other parameters. Surgeries for the neck area can be particularly important to practice due to the close proximity of several major arteries and veins, nerves, the trachea, the esophagus, the larynx, the thyroid and parathyroid glands, and other structures. Other soft tissues including the male urogenital tract, the gastrointestinal tract, and the like, present similar challenges. A method for constructing a surgical training aid would ideally be adaptable to different thicknesses and shapes of tissue in order to enable practice for surgeons and students on different areas of the body. It would be desirable if the surgical training aid was made from inexpensive and readily-available materials. It would further be desirable if the surgical training aid simulated the feel and responsiveness of human tissue, including different densities and levels of resistance to cutting in layers of the training aid meant to represent different layers of human tissue (e.g., muscle, skin, fat, and the like). The present disclosure addresses these needs. SUMMARY In accordance with the purpose(s) of the present disclosure, as embodied and broadly described herein, the disclosure, in one aspect, relates to a simulated tissue useful as a surgical training aid, the simulated tissue including: (a) a skin layer having a first surface and second surface; (b) a fat layer having a first surface and second surface, wherein the first surface of the fat layer is adjacent to the second surface of the skin layer; (c) a muscle layer having a first surface and second surface, wherein the first surface of the muscle layer is adjacent to the second surface of the fat layer; (d) a first mesh having a first surface and second surface, wherein the first surface of the first mesh is adjacent to the second surface of the muscle layer; (e) an interstitial layer having a first surface and second surface, wherein the first surface of the interstitial layer is adjacent to the second surface of the first mesh; (f) a second mesh having a first surface and second surface, wherein the first surface of the second mesh is adjacent to the second surface of the interstitial layer; (g) a structural layer incorporating one or more anatomical components adjacent to the second surface of the second mesh; and (h) a base layer having a first surface and second surface, wherein the first surface of the base layer is adjacent to the structural layer. Methods for constructing the simulated tissue are also disclosed. Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims. In addition, all optional and preferred features and modifications of the described embodiments are usable in all aspects of the disclosure taught herein. Furthermore, the individual features of the dependent claims, as well as all optional and preferred features and modifications of the described embodiments are combinable and interchangeable with one another. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. FIG. 1 shows a schematic of the cross-sectional view of a simulated ti