A method for culturing heart tissue by culturing a slice of the heart tissue in a culture medium, wherein the culture medium comprises fetal bovine serum (FBS), vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF), and fibroblast growth factor (FGF); and applying electrical stimulation to the slice while the heart slice is in culture is provided. Methods of screening candidate therapeutic agents for therapeutic effect or cardiotoxicity using the culture system are also provided.

The invention relates to a system for validation and training in invasive interventions in human and veterinary medicine, comprising a training model with an anatomical reproduction of a body part and an interchangeable practice region. The system additionally has a fluid circuit with a fluid reservoir, a pump unit, and a tube system. Interventions in the interchangeable practice region are monitored by a detection device. The user's interaction with the anatomically modeled parts of the interchangeable practice region triggers an autonomous reaction and control of the pump unit as a result of an increase or a decrease in the voltage, the current, or the frequency of the pump, said increase or decrease being generated by feedback electrical signals. The invention additionally relates to a method for validation and training in invasive interventions in human and veterinary medicine, wherein contact with the anatomically modeled parts of the interchangeable practice region is detected by the detection device, which is embodied as an electrically conductive structure and/or a light-guiding structure, and lastly the voltage, the current, or the frequency of the at least one pump is varied.

Systems, devices and methods for a surgical training tool that drives movement of an organ in order to reproduce a movement of that organ to mimic the conditions of a live surgical procedure.

The present invention discloses a food swallowing simulating device, and belongs to the field of structural design of bio-simulation machinery. The device comprises an upper jaw matrix, a tongue matrix, a transmission device and a driving device; the upper jaw matrix and the tongue matrix are arranged oppositely, and opposite surfaces are curved surfaces; a channel is reserved between the curved surfaces to form a bionic oral cavity; and the tongue matrix is connected with the driving device by the transmission device, so that the motion of the tongue matrix is controlled by the driving device. Transition from static food swallowing mechanism simulation to dynamic food swallowing mechanism simulation is realized, and thus, a blank in the market is made up.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

To provide an artificial tissue model that can be more advantageously used in surgical technique training compared to previous artificial tissues, as well as a method of fabricating the same.

[Solution]

An artificial organ model for surgical technique training comprising two or more fibrous layers 2, 3 layered and bonded to each other so as to be peelable by a surgical technique performed by a surgical technique trainee; the layered and bonded two or more fibrous layers 2, 3 as a whole being saturated with an electroconductive liquid or gel; and two adjacent fibrous layers out of the two or more fibrous layers being formed from different materials or substances or in different colors so as to be recognizable as different membranes by the surgical technique trainee.

The present disclosure provides information on the methodology used in the fabrication of three-dimensional cellularized tissue constructs from free-standing evacuable 3D printed composites and/or scaffolds embedded in an extracellular matrix mimic generated from biocompatible materials. The purposes of using these composite and/or scaffold materials is to generate complex embedded lumens that allow for complete perfusion of the matrix construct by standard cell culture media, thereby allowing for maintenance of large-scale 3D cell cultures in specific geometric forms. The use of biological extracellular matrix materials is to provide essential biological and mechanical signals needed to regulate the behavior of encapsulated cells. Furthermore, the methodology can be adapted such that the lumens generated are capable of being seeded with various endothelial and epithelial cell types as desired, thereby allowing for mimicry of in vivo vasculature, intestinal tracts, and other lumen-containing constructs. This disclosure provides the methodology for generating the tissue constructs.

A rib retention training assembly that is beneficial for training and practicing chest tube insertion and other invasive rib surgical procedures is envisioned to incorporate a portion of an animal rib cage covered by a synthetic sheet of human-like skin. One embodiment contemplates an apparatus comprising three framed plates each with an aperture in the center, much like a picture frame. When assembled, the synthetic sheet of human-like skin is sandwiched between a first outer framed plate and a center framed plate such that the synthetic sheet is covering the respective apertures, and the portion of the animal rib cage is sandwiched between the center frame plate and a second outer framed plate such that the rib cage is covering the respective apertures. This assembly provides a chest prop with a realistic feel for surgical simulations.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a training device for ophthalmic surgery so as to make it possible to readily practice inner limiting membrane peeling by using a simulated eye including a Japanese quail eggshell. This training device 1 for ophthalmic surgery includes a base 10 with a hollow portion 11 and a soft simulated sclera member 20 shaped like a part of sphere, wherein the hollow portion 11 is tapered from an upper side to a lower side and houses, upon use, a simulated eye 50 including an eggshell; the simulated sclera member 20 is provided on an upper side of the base 10; and a surgical instrument can contact, through the simulated sclera member 20, an inner surface of the simulated eye 50.

A portable surgical training device is provided. The trainer includes a top cover spaced apart from a base to form a simulated body cavity for locating model organs that are substantially obscured from the field of view of the user. The top cover includes a video display, fixed insertion ports and interchangeable inserts containing simulated tissue layers. The training device has open sides for demonstrating and training lateral surgical techniques including a simulated or live tissue colon attached to a support leg for simulating transanal minimally invasive surgery. A training endoscope with an adjustable focal length for use with the trainer and, in particular, with optical trocars is disclosed. The surgical trainer can be angled and is well suited for training laparoscopic surgery techniques and demonstrating surgical instruments.

The presently disclosed subject matter provides an approach to address the needs for microscale control in shaping the spacial geometry and microarchitecture of 3D collagen hydrogels. For example, the disclosed subject matter provides for compositions, methods, and systems employing N-sulfosuccinimidyl-6-(4′-azido-2′-nitro-phenylamino)hexanoate (“sulfo-SANPAH”), to prevent detachment of the hydrogel from the anchoring substrate due to cell-mediated contraction.