TissueDB/Materials/Glove
License: CC0-1.0 by Tjwood; deep-etch by Ash Crow
Gloves—including glove fingers and full procedure gloves—recreate thin-walled, flexible, elastic anatomy. Stretchability, smooth surface, and ability to form curved or tubular shapes make them suitable for modeling bowel segments, luminal walls, and sac-like structures such as the cecum or appendix. Pre-formed finger structures eliminate fabrication time while providing consistent tubular shapes for training.
Tissues
| Tissue | Visual | Tactile | Simulator | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowel | Appendectomy Simulator, Acute Appendicitis Simulator, Open Appendectomy Simulator (Matthews) | Procedure glove (Appendectomy Simulator): inverted, forms the cecum cavity; the index finger is tied off, the 4th and 5th fingers suture ligated; the middle finger is the appendix body. Vinyl exam glove (Acute Appendicitis Simulator, ALL-SAFE): the 2nd finger of an inverted glove is packed with sand or dirt as the appendix, the remainder filled with cotton or gauze as the cecum; a second glove has its fingers cut off, and the remaining glove is folded in half and taped to the side of the cecum as the terminal ileum. Surgical glove (Open Appendectomy Simulator, Matthews): the base forms the cecum, with auxiliary fingers 2, 4 and 5 excised; the third (middle) finger is the appendix; the thumb is the terminal ileum at the ileocecal junction. | ||
| Blood vessel | VesselBox Vessel Ligation Trainer (Hu) | Disposable latex surgical glove finger as vessel surrogate, mounted under tension inside a four-sided pine box; 2 ligation attempts per mounted finger. Selected over penrose drains, IV tubing and silicone tubing for being deformable enough to clamp and tie yet elastic enough to require steady tension; represents larger vessels and bowel mesentery well, smaller friable vessels less well. The published mounting device is proprietary and not described in the source. | ||
| Dura Mater | Lumbar Laminectomy and Dural Closure Simulator (Bakhshi) | As a latex glove (a thin natural-rubber latex membrane) — pasted over a window cut in the middle of a 5 cc plastic syringe and placed beneath the laminectomy site, so that once the lamina is removed the trainee sutures it closed with 6-0 Prolene under the microscope as a dura mater stand-in.[1] | ||
| Hernia sac | Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernioplasty TAPP 3D Simulator (Pires de Melo Filho) | Latex glove inserted into the spheroidal hernial defect of the 3D-printed model and adhered to the masking-tape peritoneal overlay, representing the hernial sac and its content for hernia identification and reduction (stage 3 of the five-stage TAPP sequence).[2] | ||
| Kidney | Percutaneous Renal Access Simulator (Ewald) | A small nitrile examination glove fashioned into the shape of the renal collecting system and filled with contrast-enhanced ballistic gelatin; the fingers are tied off to set calyceal diameter at 1.5–2 cm. The paper's methods name the glove as nitrile; its abstract and figure caption call it a surgical glove.[3] |
References
[edit source]- ↑ Bakhshi SK, Ahmad R, Merchant AAH, Noorali AA, Abdul Rahim K, Shaikh NQ, Afzal N, Lakhdir MPA, Shamim MS, Haider AH. Development, outcome and costs of a simulation-based neurosurgery bootcamp at the national level. BMC Medical Education 2022;22:896. DOI: 10.1186/s12909-022-03965-9. PMID: 36578075. Licensed CC BY 4.0.
- ↑ Pires de Melo Filho L, Mano Almeida A, Marçal de Barros Filho E, de Oliveira Borges GC. Simulated training model in a low cost for laparoscopic inguinal hernioplasty. Acta Cir Bras 2021;36(1):e360108. DOI 10.1590/ACB360108. CC BY 4.0.
- ↑ Ewald JM, Cheng JW, Engelhart SM, Wilkinson MC, Hajiha M, Wagner H, Baldwin DD. A realistic, durable, and low-cost training model for percutaneous renal access using ballistic gelatin. Turk J Urol 2019;45(1):31–6. DOI: 10.5152/tud.2018.43569. PMID: 30668307.
Overview
Gloves are thin-walled, elastic membranes available in latex, nitrile, and vinyl. Pre-formed finger structures provide consistent tubular shapes without fabrication. Available in powder-free, textured, and sterile variants. Low cost; widely available at medical supply outlets and pharmacies worldwide.
Synonyms
Common names: Glove, gloves, examination glove, surgical glove
Trade names: Nitrile glove, latex glove, vinyl glove, Dermatril glove, SafeSkin glove, Gammex glove
Regional terms: Gant (French), Guanto (Italian), Guante (Spanish), Handschuh (German), Handschoen (Dutch)
Forms: Latex glove, nitrile glove, vinyl glove, examination glove, surgical glove, powder-free glove, powdered glove, textured glove, smooth glove, long-cuff glove, short-cuff glove
Medical: Sterile surgical glove, non-sterile examination glove, medical-grade glove, latex-free glove, hypoallergenic glove, chlorinated glove
Shelf Life & Storage
| Temp Range | Humidity | Surface Reuse | Shelf Life | Spoilage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ambient (15–25 °C) | Dry, cool storage | Single use | Multi-year (check expiry) | Latex degradation; nitrile/vinyl stable longer |
Clinical Context for Simulation
Glove fingers provide a rapid, zero-fabrication approach to creating tubular anatomical structures for simulation. The pre-formed shape of individual fingers closely approximates the diameter of the appendix and small bowel segments, enabling learners to practise identification, manipulation, and mobilisation of tubular viscera with appropriate elastic compliance.
Processing & Preparation
Select appropriate glove material based on training context: nitrile for latex-free environments, latex for maximum elasticity, vinyl for lowest cost. Cut individual fingers for tubular structures. Fill with water, gel, or air depending on the tissue being simulated.
Safety Considerations
- Latex allergy — Screen participants; use nitrile or vinyl alternatives for latex-sensitive individuals.
- Single-use only — Dispose after each training session to prevent cross-contamination.
- Powder contamination — Use powder-free gloves to prevent residue on simulator components.
Related Materials
- Latex — Base material for latex gloves
- Balloon — Similar elasticity; larger volume for organ simulation
- Condom — Alternative tubular structure for larger diameter simulation
| Authors | Arturopelayo, Ian-laurel |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-4.0 |
| Cite as | Arturopelayo, Ian-laurel (2025–2026). "TissueDB/Materials/Glove". Appropedia. Retrieved August 4, 2026. |