Simulated abdominal wall
A simulated abdominal wall for laparoscopic surgical training and methods of making the wall are provided. The simulated abdominal wall is dome-shaped having a visual appearance of an insufflated abdomen. The wall is strong enough to withstand penetration with surgical trocars without unrealistic buckling or deformation. The wall is supported by a perimeter frame without any support structures traversing the wall that would interfere with port placement. The wall includes multiple layers connected together to form a unitary wall to fit a laparoscopic trainer. In one method, a projection of a dome is cut from a flat layer of foam material and assembled within a mold cavity. Consecutive layers with the same or different projection pattern are laid up inside the mold cavity. Alternatively, a vacuum mold together with heat is used to deform each foam layer. Adhesive is applied between layers to simultaneously join the adjacent layers upon deformation.
1 . A surgical training system, comprising:
a base;
a top cover connected to and spaced apart from the base to define an internal cavity; the top cover including an opening;
a frame removably connected to the top cover in the location of the opening; and
a simulated abdominal wall connected to the frame and spanning at least part of the opening; wherein the simulated abdominal wall comprises a plurality of dome-shaped layers forming a unitary dome body; the unitary dome body having a convex surface and a concave surface facing the internal cavity,
wherein the frame includes an angled channel formed between a top frame and a bottom frame; the angled channel being sized and configured to receive a perimeter of the simulated abdominal wall and to compress the simulated abdominal wall.
2 . The surgical training system of claim 1 wherein the frame comprises a two-piece system having the top frame and the bottom frame; the top and bottom frames being joined together with the simulated abdominal wall located therebetween.
3 . The surgical training system of claim 1 wherein the frame includes protrusions spaced around either or both of the top and bottom frames to secure the simulated abdominal wall to the frame.
4 . The surgical training system of claim 1 wherein the frame is polygonal in shape and the unitary dome body is a hemisphere.
5 . The surgical training system of claim 1 wherein the simulated abdominal wall is penetrable by a surgical trocar.
6 . The surgical training system of claim 1 wherein the simulated abdominal wall further comprises at least one insert disposed between two adjacent layers from the plurality of dome-shaped layers; the at least one insert being made of rigid plastic or soft plastic.
7 . The surgical training system of claim 6 wherein the at least one insert replicates anatomical structure of increased rigidity relative to the plurality of dome-shaped layers when made from rigid plastic; the at least one insert representing cartilage, muscle, bones, or tumors.
8 . The surgical training system of claim 6 wherein the at least one insert replicates anatomical structure of decreased rigidity relative to the plurality of dome-shaped layers when made from soft silicone; the at least one insert representing blood vessels or nerves.
9 . The surgical training device of claim 1 wherein adjacent layers of the plurality of dome-shaped layers are nested inside one another.
10 . The surgical training system of claim 1 wherein the unitary dome body is formed by bonding inner and outer surfaces of adjacent layers of the plurality of dome-shaped layers using adhesive.
11 . The surgical training system of claim 1 wherein the convex surface of the unitary dome body is curved in at least two directions; the convex surface having a curvature formed using a bent lamination mechanism where the plurality of domed-shaped layers are successively glued together.
12 . The surgical training system of claim 1 wherein the convex surface of the unitary dome body comprises a skin dome-shaped layer; the skin dome-shaped layer being formed from a planar skin layer comprising a planar layer of silicone cured onto a planar layer of foam, such that the silicone adheres to the foam.
13 . The surgical training system of claim 12 wherein the planar skin layer is deformed into the skin dome-shaped layer by exposure to heat in a vacuum plenum or mold; the skin dome-shaped layer having an inner surface made of foam and an outer surface made of cured silicone.
14 . The surgical training system of claim 13 wherein the inner surface of the skin dome-shaped layer is adhered to an outer surface of a topmost layer of the plurality of domed-shaped layers using adhesive.
15 . The surgical training system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of dome-shaped layers are formed from a plurality of planar cutouts of domed projections; the plurality of planar cutouts of domed projections being made of foam.
16 . The surgical training system of claim 15 wherein each of the plurality planar cutouts of domed projections is assembled into a dome having seams; the seams being defined by joining edges of each planar cutout of domed projection.
17 . The surgical training system of claim 15 wherein the plurality of planar cutouts of domed projections are of at least one or more different domed projections.
18 . The surgical training system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of dome-shaped layers are formed from a plurality of convex foam sheets; each of the plurality of convex foam sheets is formed from one flat foam sheet deformed by exposure to heat in a vacuum plenum or mold.
19 . A surgical training system, comprising:
a base;
a top cover connected to and spaced apart from the base to define an internal cavity; the top cover including an opening;
a frame removably connected to the top cover in the location of the opening; and
a simulated abdominal wall connected to the frame and spanning at least part of the opening; wherein the simulated abdominal wall comprises a plurality of dome-shaped layers forming a unitary dome body; the unitary dome body having a convex surface and a concave surface facing the internal cavity, wherein:
the frame includes an angled channel sized and configured to receive a perimeter of the simulated abdominal wall and to compress the simulated abdominal wall, and
the angled channel is angled from a vertical axis toward a center of the simulated abdominal wall and follows a contour of the convex surface of the unitary dome body.
20 . The surgical training system of claim 19 wherein the frame comprises a two-piece system having a top frame and a bottom frame; the top and bottom frames being joined together with the simulated abdominal wall located therebetween; wherein the angled channel is formed between the top frame and the bottom frame.