Manipulable 3D Torso Model for Breast Implant Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current educational tools lack a 3-Dimensional model specifically designed to demonstrate breast augmentation and reconstruction procedures, including implant placement, complications, and abdominal surgery, making it difficult for patients and surgeons to visualize and understand anatomical structures and surgical outcomes.
Innovation Solution
A 3-D anatomical teaching model featuring a female-shaped torso with manipulable muscle and tissue pieces, allowing clinicians to demonstrate breast and abdominal surgical procedures, including breast augmentation, reconstruction, and complications, using attachable and repositionable components such as pectoralis major muscle, rectus muscle, and abdominal tissue pieces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional educational tools (video, photos, drawings) are used to teach breast and abdominal surgical procedures, then the complexity of the teaching system is low, but the visualization effectiveness and understanding of anatomical structures by patients and surgeons is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The teaching model divides the breast and abdominal anatomical structures into separate, manipulable components including skin layers, subcutaneous tissue, pectoralis major muscle, breast tissue, rectus abdominis muscle, and abdominal wall layers. Each layer can be independently positioned and manipulated to demonstrate surgical procedures and anatomical relationships, transforming a complex whole into manageable educational segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional educational tools (photos, drawings, videos) to a three-dimensional physical model that allows viewers to observe anatomical structures from multiple angles and depths. The layered construction enables demonstration of depth relationships and spatial configurations that cannot be effectively conveyed in 2D formats.
2Reliability
If a detailed 3-D anatomical model with manipulable components is created to demonstrate surgical procedures, then the educational effectiveness and patient understanding is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Different anatomical layers are constructed from materials with appropriate local properties - outer skin layers use fabric or leather for durability and realistic appearance, while inner tissue layers use foam or cotton batting for softness and anatomical accuracy. Muscle layers incorporate specific textures and colors to distinguish them from other tissues, providing locally optimized educational value.
Solution Approach 2:
The model combines multiple materials including fabric, leather, foam, cotton batting, and synthetic fibers to create realistic anatomical representations. Each material is selected for its specific properties - fabric for skin durability, foam for tissue volume, cotton for subcutaneous fat appearance - creating a composite structure that accurately represents human anatomy while remaining manufacturable.
3Ease of operation
If static anatomical models are used for patient education, then the simplicity of the model is maintained, but the ability to demonstrate dynamic surgical procedures and show procedural steps is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The teaching model features dynamically reconfigurable layers that can be moved, separated, and repositioned to demonstrate different surgical procedures and anatomical relationships. The skin layers, muscle layers, and tissue layers can be independently manipulated to show incision locations, dissection planes, implant placement, and closure techniques, transforming a static model into an interactive teaching tool.
Data Source
AI summary
An anatomical teaching model is used to demonstrate principles of breast and/or abdominal surgical procedures. The model may include a torso, a pectoralis major muscle piece attachable to the chest wall surface, and a breast tissue piece that is positionable over the pectoralis major muscle piece. The model may further include a pair of rectus muscle pieces attachable to the abdominal wall surface and an abdominal tissue piece positionable over the pair of rectus muscle pieces. The pair of rectus muscle pieces have two sections of material positionable symmetrically about a sagittal plane of the female-shaped torso. The model may further include a capsule pocket configured to be inserted between the pectoralis major muscle piece and the chest wall surface, the capsule pocket having an opening for insertion of an implant.