Modified Animal Organs for Realistic Surgical Simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical simulators using animal tissues face limitations due to the use of theater blood, which can foam and lacks necessary components for electrocautery, and insufficient osmolarity, making it difficult to perform realistic surgical procedures, especially those requiring electrocautery.
Innovation Solution
Modified animal tissues and organs are enhanced with chemical enhancements such as salt solutions and hydrogels to improve electrical conductivity and include simulated contents like fake blood and odorous chemicals, allowing for realistic electrocautery simulations by partially filling them or attaching perfusion tubes for fake blood circulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If animal organs are used for surgical simulation, then the realism of tissue texture and structure is improved, but the electrical conductivity is insufficient for electrocautery procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the organ contents by replacing natural fluids with salt solutions containing electrolytes (sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride). This modification increases electrical conductivity while maintaining the organ's structural realism, enabling electrocautery procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different salt solution compositions to different organs and body cavities based on their specific surgical requirements. For example, the bowel contains salt solutions with osmolarity ranging from 100-400 mOsm/L to simulate various physiological conditions and enable electrocautery, while other organs may have different compositions tailored to their specific training needs.
2Illumination intensity
If theater blood is used in surgical simulators, then the visual appearance is improved, but the osmolarity is too low causing organ swelling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the osmolarity parameter of blood substitutes by adding salt solutions with osmolarity ranging from 100-400 mOsm/L, which is higher than theater blood. This prevents organ swelling while maintaining realistic visual appearance through colorants and other additives.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite blood substitute materials combining colorants for visual realism with salt solutions for proper osmolarity. This composite formulation includes multiple components: colorants for appearance, electrolytes for conductivity and osmolarity, and other additives to simulate real blood properties without causing tissue swelling.
3Illumination intensity
If theater blood is used in surgical simulators, then the visual appearance is improved, but foaming occurs due to detergent content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes harmful detergents from the blood substitute formulation while retaining the visual appearance properties through alternative colorants and additives. This extraction of the foaming-causing component eliminates the harmful effect while preserving the beneficial visual characteristics.
4Reliability
If animal organs are used for surgical simulation, then the tissue texture is improved, but the contents lack appropriate osmolarity for electrocautery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the osmolarity parameter of organ contents by filling organs with salt solutions ranging from 100-400 mOsm/L. This modification enables electrocautery procedures while preserving the organ's natural tissue texture and structure for realistic surgical training.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The modified tissues and organs provide a more realistic experience for surgeons by enabling effective electrocautery and simulating bleeding scenarios, improving training accuracy and realism in surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
enhancing their electrical conductivity by filling or partially filling them with salt solutions
Implementation Method 2
the osmolarity of theater blood is typically lower than regular blood, causing organs to swell
Data Source
AI summary
Modified animal tissues, organs, and organ systems for use in simulated surgical procedures are disclosed. The tissues, organs, and/or organ systems can be modified by enhancing their electrical conductivity, by including simulated contents mimicking what would normally be present in live animals, and by having fake blood perfusing through them. Portions of different tissues, organs, or organ systems, which can be from the same or different animals, can be adhered to provide hybrid/chimeric tissues, organs, or organ systems, and also used for simulated surgical procedures. These modifications can provide surgeons with a more realistic experience during a simulated surgical procedure.