3D-printed pediatric endoscopic ear surgery simulator for surgical training

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• 作者：Samuel R. Barber^a ; ^b ; ¹ ; Elliott D. Kozin^a ; ^b ; ¹ ; ^{Elliott_Kozin@meei.harvard.edu" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author} ; Matthew Dedmon^a ; ^b ; ¹ ; Brian M. Lin^a ; ^b ; Kyuwon Lee^a ; ^b ; Sumi Sinha^a ; ^b ; Nicole Black^c ; ^d ; Aaron K. Remenschneider^a ; ^b ; Daniel J. Lee^a ; ^b
• 关键词：Endoscopic ear surgery ; Transcanal endoscopic ear surgery ; Simulator ; 3D printing ; Surgical simulation
• 刊名：International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
• 出版年：2016
• 出版时间：November 2016
• 年：2016
• 卷：90
• 期：Complete
• 页码：113-118
• 全文大小：1509 K

文摘

Surgical simulators are designed to improve operative skills and patient safety. Transcanal Endoscopic Ear Surgery (TEES) is a relatively new surgical approach with a slow learning curve due to one-handed dissection. A reusable and customizable 3-dimensional (3D)-printed endoscopic ear surgery simulator may facilitate the development of surgical skills with high fidelity and low cost. Herein, we aim to design, fabricate, and test a low-cost and reusable 3D-printed TEES simulator.

Methods

The TEES simulator was designed in computer-aided design (CAD) software using anatomic measurements taken from anthropometric studies. Cross sections from external auditory canal samples were traced as vectors and serially combined into a mesh construct. A modified tympanic cavity with a modular testing platform for simulator tasks was incorporated. Components were fabricated using calcium sulfate hemihydrate powder and multiple colored infiltrants via a commercial inkjet 3D-printing service.

Results

All components of a left-sided ear were printed to scale. Six right-handed trainees completed three trials each. Mean trial time (n = 3) ranged from 23.03 to 62.77 s using the dominant hand for all dissection. Statistically significant differences between first and last completion time with the dominant hand (p < 0.05) and average completion time for junior and senior residents (p < 0.05) suggest construct validity.

Conclusions

A 3D-printed simulator is feasible for TEES simulation. Otolaryngology training programs with access to a 3D printer may readily fabricate a TEES simulator, resulting in inexpensive yet high-fidelity surgical simulation.