Surgical Simulations - Master of Translational Medicine

Overview

The PrinterPrezz high-fidelity surgical simulator- with added characteristics of conductivity, pathology, and visual resemblance – is built to allow clinicians of all backgrounds to effectively simulate realistic procedures.

The Issue

Surgical training has evolved over time, but the tools for realistic training have not effectively represented the diverse anatomy and pathologies of patients. Plastic models, animal models, cadavers, and virtual reality simulators all have weaknesses when holistically representing surgical procedures.

Approach

The team utilized 3D printing technology and injection molding techniques to create customizable pathologies, iterate on the texture/color of the model, and test various chemical components. The result was improvement in the conductivity of the surgical models, allowing for electrocauterization.

MTM Student Engagement

Students created over 20 3D-printed colon surgical simulators with color, texture, pathological, and visual resemblances to the human GI tract. Students also devised a verification and validation scoring system, allowing clinicians to rank the models.