
Optically transparent model kidney for surgical simulation
Unmet Need
Surgical simulation is an important step in medical training. It is particularly critical for training in the urological field, which had 144 residency programs in 2023. Lithotripsy, a surgical procedure to treat kidney stones, requires precise anatomical knowledge and an understanding of the physical properties of the kidney. Current kidney models fail to recapitulate the real kidney due to artificial mechanical properties or because they are optically opaque which restricts the training potential of the model. This limits their effectiveness in training and providing a foundational skill set for new urologists. There is a need for better kidney models that can both realistically simulate lithotripsy procedures and preform as better aids in medical training.
Technology
Duke inventors have developed an optically transparent model kidney. This is intended to be used to train urologists and aid in surgical simulation. Specifically, Duke inventors have developed a method to produce an optically transparent, anatomically accurate, and mechanically similar model kidney from ballistic gel. This design allows for rapid production, which balances manufacturing ease with anatomical accuracy. The model is designed for easy assembly and disassembly, which facilitates the implantation of artificial or human kidney stones or other sensors, such as thermocouples, in the model prior to lithotripsy and collection of residual fragments and dust or other data, such as temperature variations, during and post the lithotripsy procedures. Further, the transparency allows for visual feedback during training. This model has been demonstrated to accurately simulate lithotripsy, which is a critical urological procedure.
Other Applications
This could also be used to test new surgical methods and devices. Intracorporeal approaches for lithotripsy such as ultrasound-, pneumatic -, and electrodraulic methods could be tested with this high-fidelity model. Additionally, extracorporeal methods such as shockwave lithotripsy or shockwave therapy, could be tested with this kidney model.
Advantages
- Mimics the properties of a human kidney
- Allows for realistic lithotripsy simulation and data collection
- Optically transparent
- Provides visual feedback during training and video recording
- Anatomically accurate
- Cheap to produce
- Rapid production
- Can be used to test intra- and extracorporeal methods and devices