Surgical training model for laparoscopic procedures
A surgical training device is provided. The training device includes a model for practicing the passage of needle and suture. The model includes a base with a plurality of openings configured to receive a plurality of suture tabs. The suture tabs are made of elastomeric material. Some suture tabs includes pre-formed tab apertures for the passage of a suture. Other suture tabs include a penetrable area through which a suture needle may penetrate for passing a suture. The suture tabs are movable with respect to the base to orientate them at different angles with respect to the base. The base itself may include portions that are angled with respect to each other. The suture tabs are movable with respect to the base to pull, expose or open the tab apertures and surfaces. Some of the tab apertures are slits that open upon being pulled relative to the base requiring the user to practice holding the tab while passing the needle through the tab.
1. A suture training model, comprising:
a base having a top surface interconnected with a bottom surface; the top surface being parallel to the bottom surface to define a substantially planar structure having a thickness; a plurality of openings being formed in the base extending between the top surface and the bottom surface; and
a plurality of suture tabs sized and configured to be inserted into the plurality of openings; each of the plurality of suture tabs having a first side interconnected with a second side to form a top portion and a bottom portion; the plurality of suture tabs being configured to have a resting configuration and an elongated configuration along a longitudinal axis; at least one suture tab of the plurality of suture tabs being located inside one opening of the plurality of openings such that the at least one suture tab is removably retained inside the one opening; the at least one suture tab is movable between the resting configuration and the elongated configuration by pulling a proximal end of the top portion upwardly relative to the top surface of the base,
wherein at least part of the top portion of the at least one suture tab is extending above the top surface of the base when residing inside the one opening; each of the plurality of openings having at least one mating surface about the longitudinal axis and the at least one suture tab having at least one corresponding mating surface sized and configured to mate with the at least one mating surface of the one opening to prevent rotation of the at least one suture tab about the longitudinal axis.
2. The suture training model of claim 1 wherein the plurality of openings are sized and configured to permit more than one fixed orientation of the plurality of suture tabs about their longitudinal axis with respect to the base.
3. The suture training model of claim 1 wherein the bottom portion of the at least one suture tab is retained with respect to the base while the length of the at least one suture tab along the longitudinal axis is increased in the elongated configuration relative to the resting configuration.
4. The suture tab training model of claim 1 wherein when in the elongated configuration, the plurality of suture tabs are retained in the base while being stretched in length; the plurality of suture tabs tend to return to the resting configuration when released from the elongated configuration.
5. The suture training model of claim 1 wherein the bottom portion of each suture tab is configured to be wider than its top portion so as to prevent the bottom portion from being pulled proximally through one of the plurality of the openings.
6. The suture training model of claim 1 wherein some of the plurality of suture tabs comprise a ledge between the top portion and the bottom portion extending around at least a portion of the suture tabs.
7. The suture training model of claim 6 wherein the ledge is configured to abut the bottom surface of the base to retain the suture tabs inside one of the plurality of openings of the base using an interference fit.
8. The suture training model of claim 1 wherein the top and bottom portions of some of the plurality of suture tabs comprise respectively a tab face and a tab base that are interconnected by a tab neck; the tab neck being sized and configured to reside inside one of the plurality of openings in the base.
9. The suture tab training model of claim 1 wherein some of the top portions of the plurality of suture tabs define a penetrable region between the first side and the second side when the top portion has no pre-formed apertures; the penetrable region being pierceable with a suture needle.
10. The suture tab training model of claim 1 wherein some of the top portions of the plurality of suture tabs comprise at least one pre-formed aperture extending laterally between the first side and the second side through the top portion; wherein moving the at least one suture tab with the at least one pre-formed aperture from the resting configuration to the elongated configuration enlarges the at least one pre-formed aperture of the at least one suture tab being moved.
11. The suture tab training model of claim 1 wherein the plurality of suture tabs are made of elastic material or rigid plastic, wherein the elastic material comprises silicone, elastomer, rubber or polymer.