Minimally invasive surgery (MIC) has significant advantages over conventional open surgery. Less invasiveness of surgical procedures can significantly reduce iatrogenic trauma and therefore morbidity and mortality. However, the introduction of MIC (as well as all other innovative surgical techniques) is associated with a significant increase in training and education.
In order to teach manual skills and cognitive skills as well as procedural knowledge in the context of surgical training, training models are indispensable. But also to develop new surgical techniques and to evaluate medical devices, suitable simulation models are required.
The present research work deals with the advancement of the ELITE analog trainer and operation model, which was developed in the research group MITI of the Klinikum rechts der Isar in cooperation with the company CLA. The ELITE trainer is designed for endoscopic, laparoscopic as well as single-port and NOTES interventions.
In order to expand the range of application of the operation phantom and to increase the immersion, various organ models have been redesigned or remodeled through constructive and material-related changes.
A silicon-based abdominal wall model with fiber reinforcement based on the sandwich principle has been newly developed in order to be able to realistically simulate the creation of a pneumoperitoneum and accurately reproduce the human characteristics of the tissue. The evaluation was carried out on the one hand by a dipping test, which verified the airtightness of the system. On the other hand, a study was carried out with volunteers in which the anatomical, biomechanical and haptic properties of the model were evaluated in the context of a manual palpation.
From natural rubber, a large intestine model was produced, which shows the properties of the human gastrointestinal tract almost naturally. The functionality was tested by using the models in endoscopic procedures. The biomechanical and haptic properties were evaluated through the use of staplers and anastomization of the bowel ends as well as the determination of the puncture resistance and tear resistance of a surgical suture.
Furthermore, an arteriovenous perfusion model was created out of latex for the model of the liver. It simulates an optically and haptically perceptible pulsation of arterial vessel models in evenly filled venous vascular models. The evaluation was carried out by using the model in the POP-Trainer, in which the dissection and suture properties were evaluated in addition to the optical properties.
As a result of this further development, the individual organ modules could be made significantly more realistic, so that the functionality and immersion of the ELITE operation phantom were decisively improved.
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Minimally invasive surgery (MIC) has significant advantages over conventional open surgery. Less invasiveness of surgical procedures can significantly reduce iatrogenic trauma and therefore morbidity and mortality. However, the introduction of MIC (as well as all other innovative surgical techniques) is associated with a significant increase in training and education.
In order to teach manual skills and cognitive skills as well as procedural knowledge in the context of surgical training, traini...
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