Portable Laparoscopic Trainer

3D Med's Minimally Invasive Training System (MITS) is a task trainer station designed to teach laparoscopic surgery skills using real tools and models. The trainer is highly portable, with the liquid crystal video display mounted to the surgical area. This enables the unit to be used close to the clinical environment when time permits, in addition to being part of regular practice sessions in the lab.

Real instruments are inserted through ports placed along the front and side panels in seven or more locations, enabling one or two trainees to practice simultaneously. There are ports along the top, on the front, and on each side to ensure accuracy of tool placement for a given procedure. Because real instruments are used, equipment in-services can be done on this trainer.

An anatomic model from any manufacturer may be used in the trainer, or real tissue may replace the physical models. The cobra rope is a favorite station. A white string with blue ends and red marks placed periodically down the length is left coiled in the box. The trainee must grab the string by one blue end and move down the length of the string, touching only the red marks. This simulates the hand over hand skill which would be used, for example, when running a bowel.

When using the standard video view, the internally mounted camera is used. This leaves both the trainee's hands free to maneuver the instruments or tissue. But if camera driving is an educational objective, then the hand-held camera can be inserted into any of the ports to allow camera orientation and tracking to be practiced. The hand-held camera also allows teams of trainees to practice together to increase efficiency and communication during surgical procedures.