The presently disclosed subject matter provides a biomimetic lung disease model, and methods of its production and use. In one exemplary embodiment, the biomimetic lung disease model can include a first and second microchannel with a membrane coated with airway epithelial cells disposed between the microchannels and at least one device coupled to the biomimetic model that delivers an agent to at least one microchannel. In certain embodiments, the agent is cigarette smoke.

Universal simulator used to practice techniques and procedures in cardiac surgery through classical and minimally invasive approaches at the heart level, or other interventions in the thoracic surgery field. The simulator is composed of a synthetic thorax (1) which has several incisions (6) with mobile costo-vertebral joints (2) and mobile sterno-costal joints (3), a sternum with a medium cut (4) and a transversal cut (5) at the level of the third intercostal space, a porcine tissue composed of heart (7), two lungs (21), ascending aorta (17), descending aorta (22) and trachea (23) and a pumping system composed of an actuator (10), a piston cylinder (8) connected through tubing (11) to the left and right ventricles of the heart, a variable pressure pump (9) which pumps liquid through tubing (18) into the ascending aorta (17), an air trap (13) mounted between the pump (8) and the heart (7) and two unidirectional valves (19 and 20) for liquid and air, mounted in series in the superior part of the air trap (13) and a reservoir (14) for liquid connected to the pumps (8 and 9) which pump liquid into and from the heart (7) and to the ascending aorta (17).

A test bench assembly (10) for the simulation of cardiac surgery and/or interventional cardiology operations and/or procedures, comprising a passive heart (12), wherein said passive heart (12) is an explanted or artificial or hybrid heart, said passive heart (12) having at least one pair of cardiac chambers (14, 16; 114, 116) comprising an atrial chamber (14; 114) and a ventricular chamber (16; 116); a reservoir (20), adapted to house the working fluid; a pressure generator (22), adapted to provide said passive heart (12) pumping said working fluid with the pumping function, said pressure generator (22) being fluidically connected both to said ventricular chamber (16) of said passive heart (12) and to said reservoir (20) by means of first fluid connection means; a pressure regulation device (24) which provides the working fluid in input to the atrial chamber (14) with the preload pressure, and the working fluid in output from the ventricular chamber (16) with the afterload pressure, said pressure regulation device (24) being fluidically connected both to said atrial chamber (14) of said passive heart (12) and to said ventricular chamber (16) of said passive heart (12) by means of second fluid connection means; wherein said pressure regulation device (24) comprises a single compliant element (26) for each pair of cardiac chambers (14, 16) which provides the working fluid with both the preload and the afterload pressures.

The present disclosure includes millifluidic cephalic arch (mCA) device having a patient-specific vessel that includes an outer surface; an inner surface that defines a vessel lumen extending through the patient-specific vessel and configured to correspond to a patient's Cephalic vein, and a curved section.

The present invention relates to a 3D bioprinted skin tissue model, a method for providing said model and the use of said model. The 3D bioprinted skin tissue model comprises at least one bioink A, at least one cell type A, at least one factor A, wherein the bioink A comprises at least one biopolymer, a thickener, at least one extra-cellular matrix or a decellularized matrix, and optionally a photo initiator and/or cellular additions, the at least one cell type A is an epidermal, dermal and/or hypodermal cell or cell line, and the at least one factor A is a growth factor, protein and/or molecule that stimulates altered or abnormal metabolism of cell type A.

A custom support structure and models for use in simulated robotically-assisted, telesurgical and/or laparoscopic colonic, pelvic, bladder, or uterine surgery are disclosed. The support structure comprises components for inserting the support structure into a mannequin, and for positioning animal tissue in a way that mimics the human colorectal, pelvic, uterine, and bladder systems, thus allowing for simulated surgery.

Provided herein are 3D tumor angiogenesis models and their methods of preparation and use. In some aspects, the need for identifying whether a potential drug target influences angiogenesis, identifying compounds that modulate angiogenesis, and identifying new drug targets for modulating angiogenesis.

An oral biology model which comprises biofilm, oral epithelial tissue and a suspension of neutrophil-like cells in media is disclosed. The biofilm, which comprises oral bacteria, is produced by culturing oral bacteria on a solid substrate. The oral epithelial tissue may be gingival epithelial tissue to model the gingival crevice or buccal epithelial tissue to model the oral check. The suspension of neutrophil-like cells in media comprises neutrophil-like cells that are differentiated HL60 cells induced to a neutrophil-like phenotype by treatment with retinoic acid. Methods of using the oral biology model to test and compare compounds and formulations or to screen compounds and formulations for their effect on release of inflammatory signals, their effect on biofilm and oral bacteria and/or their effect on the cellular components are disclosed.

Injection of silicon oil (SO) to the anterior chamber of an eye efficiently induces intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation. This effect occurs without causing overt ocular structural damage or inflammatory responses while simulating acute glaucomatous changes that human patients develop over years by inducing progressive RGC and ON degeneration and visual functional deficits within weeks. The anterior segments of the experimental eyes are not substantially affected, leaving clear ocular elements that allow easy and reliable assessment of in vivo visual function and morphology. More importantly, this is the only reversible ocular hypertension model by removing SO from the anterior chamber and particularly useful for testing neuro-protection treatment together with lowering IOP treatment. In summary, the acute ocular hypertension glaucoma model replicates secondary post-operative glaucoma. It is straightforward and reversible, does not require special equipment or repeat injections, and may be applicable to a range of animal species with only minor modifications.

A surgeon training apparatus includes a cassette, which includes biological tissue re-purposed into a form consistent with the anatomical configuration of a foregut, affixed into an anatomically correct framework which replicates the abdominal anatomy. The framework positions the cassette in an anatomically correct position within the abdominal cavity, enabling surgeons to train using a properly positioned representation of the target anatomy, thus requiring the surgeon to properly use surgical tools to simulate surgical operations performed on a foregut. The cassette is formed by applying biologic tissue to a specially designed “plate,” which affixes the tissue block into the anatomic framework. The cassette can be positioned inside a mannequin, and can be used to train surgeons to perform surgeries using multiple techniques, including robot assisted and laparoscopic methods.