TissueDB/Materials/Plastic Tubing
Plastic tubing is an inexpensive, flexible hollow tube — sold everywhere as aquarium tubing, IV and drip lines, silicone and vinyl hose, drinking straws, and latex tourniquet tube — used in surgical simulation to stand in for hollow, fluid-carrying tissues such as blood vessels, the umbilical cord, ducts, and the urethra. It is the parent tubing class: the specific wall material (latex, silicone, vinyl, PVC) is the minor axis and the tube form is the main one, so builds that call for "latex tubing", "silicone tubing", or "IV tubing" all belong here. A length of tube is cut to size, routed through the model, and — where flow is wanted — connected to a pumped or gravity-fed fluid reservoir.
Tissues
| Tissue | Visual | Tactile | Simulator | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aorta and vena cava (great abdominal vessels) | Partial | Partial | Intra-abdominal Bleeding Simulator (Fernandes) | Latex tube (9 mm outer, 6 mm inner diameter) laid at anatomically correct positions for the aorta, vena cava and branch vessels. One end is occluded and the other connected to a fluid reservoir; a hand-squeezed bag gives pulsatile arterial flow while a gravity line gives venous flow, so the trainee can tell arterial from venous bleeding. The tube wall is stiffer than a real vessel, but perforating it reproduces a controllable bleed point. |
| Blood vessel (limb / peripheral artery) | Partial | Partial | Synthetic Tourniquet Training Model (Souza Lima) | A 1 m length of latex tubing threaded through a mannequin leg, carrying a pumped paint-and-water "blood" mixture that gushes at a simulated wound. Correct tourniquet placement proximal to the wound compresses the tube and stops the flow — the pass/fail training endpoint. The tube is compliant enough to be occluded by external pressure. |
| Aorta, iliac and femoral arteries (endovascular circuit) | Partial | Partial | REBOA Simulator (Keller) | Latex tubing sized by segment — 2.5 cm inner diameter for the abdominal aorta and 1.3 cm inner diameter for the iliac and femoral arteries — joined with polymer connectors and driven by a pulsatile pump. The lumen accepts a real 12 Fr sheath and CODA occlusion balloon, so the tube must hold pressure (systolic 54–226 mmHg in the source) without leaking at the connectors. |
| Umbilical cord | Yes | Partial | Abdominal Wall Defect Simulator (Medeiros) | A length of latex tourniquet tube (about 5 mm across) forms the umbilical cord on the gastroschisis model, elaborated and separated from the herniated bowel loops. Classed as tissue per Dr. Mohr (10 Jun 2026 walkthrough). The tube's diameter and colour read convincingly as a cord for visual-diagnosis training; it is not fluid-filled here. |
| Blood Vessel | - | - | Tourniquet Simulator | A 5 mm latex hose (1 m) threaded through the compression zone beneath two PVC half-pipes; correct tourniquet pressure occludes the tube and stops the simulated-blood flow. |
| Blood Vessel | - | - | Wound Packing Simulator | Two 5 mm latex hoses (1 m each) carry the pumped simulated-blood circuit through the wound mechanism for direct-pressure and wound-packing practice. |
Simulation Requirements
Visual. A plain tube reads convincingly as a vessel or cord at arm's length: choose a diameter matching the target (roughly 2–3 mm for a small peripheral vessel or umbilical cord, up to ~25 mm inner diameter for the abdominal aorta) and a wall colour close to the tissue (translucent or red-tinted for vessels, pale for a cord). It does not reproduce the sheen, adventitia, or branching detail of a real vessel wall.
Tactile. The tube gives the hollow, roll-under-the-finger feel of a vessel and can be clamped, compressed, or perforated. Wall stiffness is the main limitation: most retail tubing (aquarium, IV, tourniquet) is firmer than a real vessel, so softer-walled silicone or thin latex tube feels closer to arterial compliance than rigid vinyl or PVC.
Functional. Not yet scored (Functional and Feedback domains are parked pending further definition). Where flow is needed, the lumen carries a pumped or gravity-fed fluid; one end is occluded and the other fed from a reservoir. Tube and connector fittings must hold the working pressure without leaking — the limiting factor at higher pressures (see the Keller REBOA circuit).
Feedback. Not yet scored. Compression to arrest flow, and perforation to create a bleed point, are the main trainee-observable responses reported in the source simulators.
Troubleshooting
- Procedures needing true vessel-wall compliance or a realistic arteriotomy — Rigid or thick-walled tube (vinyl, PVC, aquarium hose) is far stiffer than a real artery and cuts unrealistically. Choose a thin-walled silicone or latex tube, or use a purpose-made cast-silicone vessel for suturing and anastomosis practice.
- Latex tubing with latex-allergic learners — Latex tourniquet tube is a common choice but is unsuitable where allergy is a concern. Substitute silicone or vinyl tubing of a similar bore.
- Leaks at the connectors under pumped flow — Tube-to-fitting joints, not the tube itself, are the usual failure point in a pressurised circuit; step the diameters with proper adapters and seal with tape, as the Keller and Foley builds do.
- Tube kinks or collapses when routed through tight bends — A tube with too thin a wall for its bore will pinch shut; use a slightly thicker wall or a larger radius where the tube turns.
Alternatives
| Alternative | Best For | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| Silicone tubing | Softer wall closer to real vessel compliance; latex-free; reusable and heat-tolerant | More expensive than vinyl or aquarium tubing; not always on hand in low-resource settings |
| Latex tubing (incl. tourniquet tube) | Cheap, stretchy, and easily occluded by external pressure; widely used in the source simulators | Latex-allergy risk; degrades and needs periodic replacement (Fernandes replaced tubes across validation runs) |
| Vinyl / PVC tubing | Very cheap and rigid; holds shape well for a fixed conduit | Wall far stiffer than a real vessel; poor for compression or suturing tasks |
| IV / drip line and drinking straws | Free or near-free and ubiquitous; fine for small-bore ducts and non-functional vessels | Small fixed bore; too rigid (straws) or too narrow for larger vessels |
Used In Simulators
| Simulator | Purpose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Intra-abdominal Bleeding Simulator (Fernandes) | Aorta, vena cava and branch vessels | Latex tubes carry simulated blood from reservoirs; perforating a chosen tube directs the bleed for haemorrhage-control practice.[1] |
| Synthetic Tourniquet Training Model (Souza Lima) | Limb blood vessel | A 1 m latex tube carries pumped simulated blood; correct tourniquet placement compresses it and stops the flow.[2] |
| REBOA Simulator (Keller) | Aorta, iliac and femoral arteries | Latex tubing (2.5 cm and 1.3 cm inner diameter) forms a pressurised endovascular circuit for femoral access and aortic balloon occlusion.[3] |
| Abdominal Wall Defect Simulator (Medeiros) | Umbilical cord | Latex tourniquet tube forms the umbilical cord on the gastroschisis model for visual-diagnosis training.[4] |
| Foley Catheter Tamponade Simulator | Fluid conduit (wound circuit) | Latex hose carries the water circuit through the mechanism body; here the tube is the plumbing rather than a modelled vessel.[5] |
References
[edit source]- ↑ Fernandes CO, Rodrigues LR, Silva do Amaral MLBS, de Morais Rodrigues SJ, Marton-Filho MA. Low-cost simulator for intra-abdominal bleeding. Rev Col Bras Cir 2023;50:e20233512. DOI: 10.1590/0100-6991e-20233512-en. PMID 37971114.
- ↑ Souza Lima D, Almeida YADS, Cid DMC, Cardoso LC, Braga CS, Regis FGL. Low-cost synthetic tourniquet training model. Rev Col Bras Cir 2019;46(6):e20192324. DOI: 10.1590/0100-6991e-20192324. PMID 31967244.
- ↑ Keller BA, Salcedo ES, Williams TK, Neff LP, Carden AJ, Li Y, Gotlib O, Tran NK, Galante JM. Design of a cost-effective, hemodynamically adjustable model for resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) simulation. J Trauma Acute Care Surg 2016;81(3):606–611. DOI: 10.1097/TA.0000000000001153. PMID 27270855.
- ↑ Medeiros GA, Gualberto IJN, da Silva CHND, Diniz AMB, de Santana JBF, Volpe FP, Gadde R, Mazzo A, de Oliveira RC, Sbragia L. Development of a low-cost congenital abdominal wall defect simulator (wall-go) for undergraduate medical education: a validation study. BMC Medical Education 2023;23(1):966. DOI: 10.1186/s12909-023-04929-3. PMID 38102605.
- ↑ CrashSavers Trauma — Hemostatic Foley Simulator, Step-by-Step Building Manual. CrashSavers, Global Surgical Training Challenge.
Overview
[edit source]Plastic tubing is flexible hollow tube in a range of wall materials — latex, silicone, vinyl, PVC — and bores, sold as aquarium and drip line, IV tubing, tourniquet tube, and drinking straws. It is one of the most widely available and cheapest materials a builder can reach for: a functional length costs roughly USD 1–5, and a whole bulk roll of aquarium or vinyl tubing is typically under USD 15 at any hardware, aquarium, or pharmacy supplier worldwide. Indefinite shelf life if kept out of direct sunlight; latex grades harden and should be replaced periodically.
Synonyms
[edit source]Form variations / synonyms (all pointing to this class): IV tubing, IV tube, silicone tubing, silicone tube, vinyl tubing, vinyl tube, Silastic tubing, feeding tube, nasal cannula, plastic pipe, plastic straw, latex tourniquet tube.
Wall materials: latex, silicone, vinyl, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane.
International/regional terms: tubo de plástico / tubo de silicona (Spanish), tube en plastique (French), tubo de plástico (Portuguese), Kunststoffschlauch (German).
Shelf Life & Storage
| Temp Range | Humidity | Surface Reuse | Shelf Life | Spoilage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Room temperature; keep out of direct sunlight and UV | Dry, ambient | Reusable across many sessions; latex grades replaced periodically as they harden | Indefinite for silicone/vinyl/PVC; latex degrades over months to years | Latex hardening and cracking; wall discolouration under UV; connector fittings loosening with repeated flexing |
Clinical Context for Simulation
[edit source]Hollow, fluid-carrying tissues — arteries, veins, the umbilical cord, ducts, the urethra — are defined for the trainee by their lumen, compliance, and the way they carry or arrest flow. A cut length of tube gives a builder those three properties cheaply: a lumen to cannulate or perforate, a wall to compress or clamp, and a conduit to pump fluid through. It is the workhorse stand-in wherever the training goal is finding, controlling, or accessing a vessel rather than reproducing its exact wall histology.
Processing & Preparation
[edit source]Safety Considerations
[edit source]Related Materials
[edit source]Latex Sheet (sheet form of the same rubber; distinct from tubing), Castable Silicone (for cast vessels where wall fidelity matters), PVC (rigid pipe form, used structurally rather than as a vessel).
Accessibility & Infrastructure Factors
| Halal | Kosher | Vegan | Cold chain | Altitude | Cost | Shelf storage |
|---|
Key: ✅ = Compatible/Available, ❌ = Not compatible/Not available, ⚠️ = Conditional (see notes)
Notes: Widely and cheaply available worldwide (aquarium, drip line, IV tubing, straws); no cold chain, power, or special handling needed; stable at room temperature. Latex grades carry a latex-allergy consideration; silicone or vinyl tubing is the latex-free substitute. No dietary or cultural restriction applies to plastic tubing.
| Authors | Arturopelayo |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-4.0 |
| Cite as | Arturopelayo (2026). "TissueDB/Materials/Plastic Tubing". Appropedia. Retrieved July 14, 2026. |