TissueDB/Materials/Felt
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License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 by Wolfmann
Felt is a non-woven fabric — fibres (wool or synthetic acrylic/polyester) matted and bonded together by heat, moisture and pressure rather than woven or knitted, so it has no grain and its cut edges do not fray. It is the same material as felted cloth (natural wool felt); synthetic acrylic or polyester felt is usually preferred in simulation for consistency and easy cleaning. It is sold as craft felt sheets (often coloured — for example red or white), industrial felt and wool felt, by the sheet or roll, at craft and fabric shops. In medical simulation its firm, uniform density suits planar tissue layers: as a fascia layer (stiffened with packing tape on both sides), as a muscle layer, and as an outer skin layer or wrap. You work with it by cutting to size, layering sheets, or backing it with tape, and by punching holes to anchor it under tension.
Tissues
| Tissue | Visual | Tactile | Simulator | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skin | Trocar Placement Simulator | Trocar Placement: white felt cut to the same size as the fascia layer (15.25 × 15.25 cm / 6 × 6 in) with a central hole for the umbilicus balloon is the untaped top skin layer. | ||
| Muscle | Trocar Placement Simulator | As red felt: two 15.25 × 5 cm (6 × 2 in) pieces tensioned across the pen holders as the abdominal-wall muscle layer. | ||
| Fascia | Trocar Placement Simulator | As white felt stiffened with packing tape on both sides: a 15.25 × 15.25 cm (6 × 6 in) square with corner holes for the pen holders. |
Used In Simulators
| Simulator | Purpose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Orthoplastic Reconstruction Simulator | Outer covering layer (no tissue named in the source) | A 45 × 10 cm felt piece punched with 5 holes on each long side, laid over the upper sponge and anchored to the board's side pegs with elastic bands. The build source describes only its size, placement and fixing, and assigns it no tissue.[1] |
References
[edit source]- ↑ Orthoplastic reconstruction/Physical Simulator — the physical simulator of the Orthoplastic Reconstruction training module, part of the Global Surgical Training Challenge, developed by the AmoSmile team; Appropedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Overview
[edit source]Felt is a cheap, widely available craft and industrial material. Synthetic acrylic or polyester felt is the usual choice for simulation — consistent, easy to clean, and it keeps indefinitely at room temperature. It is sold by the sheet or roll at craft and fabric shops; wool felt ("felted cloth") is the natural-fibre form. Its firm, non-woven density suits planar tissue layers for fascia, muscle and skin.
Synonyms
[edit source]Common names: Craft felt, Industrial felt, Wool felt, Synthetic felt, Acrylic felt, Felted cloth, Red felt, White felt
Related terms: Boiled wool, Fulled cloth, Needle felt, Bonded fabric, Non-woven fabric, Compressed fibre sheet
Shelf Life & Storage
| Temp Range | Humidity | Surface Reuse | Shelf Life | Spoilage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ambient (15–25 °C) | Dry environment | Reusable; replace when worn | Indefinite | None (stable fibre) |
Clinical Context for Simulation
[edit source]Processing & Preparation
[edit source]Material selection: synthetic felt (acrylic or polyester) is preferred over wool for consistency and ease of cleaning.
Sizing: cut to the simulator's dimensions (for example 15.25 × 5 cm strips). Cut edges do not fray, so no hemming is needed.
Layering: layer two sheets, or back the felt with packing tape, for a thicker, stiffer fascia.
Cleaning: wipe with a damp cloth and air dry between sessions; felt retains marks and minor surface wear.
Rotation: use a fresh surface for each learner to prevent matting.
Safety Considerations
[edit source]- Allergy considerations — wool felt may trigger reactions in individuals with wool sensitivity; synthetic acrylic or polyester felt avoids this.
- Fibre shedding — older or degraded felt may shed fibres; inspect and discard degraded pieces.
Related Materials
[edit source]- Soft foam — Fills the same planar skin and fascia layer roles in other trainers. The Z-Plasty "Traditional Felt Simulator" variant is in fact built from foam fabric sheets, and the Carter thoracic source names its single covering layer inconsistently — "headliner foam" in the body text, "thin felt" in the figure caption.
- Packing Tape — Layered over felt to stiffen it