TissueDB/Materials/Polyvinyl Alcohol
License: CC-BY-SA-3.0 by LHcheM
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a water-soluble synthetic polymer. It is made up into a dissolvable filament for 3D printing, and into gels, including polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel tubing — also written PVA hydrogel tubing — which stands in for blood vessels. This page describes dissolvable support filament used for printed parts and purchased PVA hydrogel tubing used to model arteries.
As a dissolvable support filament it is supplied for fused deposition modelling (FDM) 3D printing. In dual-extruder prints the printer deposits PVA support struts alongside the primary build filament (commonly PLA or TPE), and the finished part is then submerged in water to dissolve the PVA away. Support filament is valuable for internal cavities, overhangs, and complex articulations that cannot be printed in a single pass, and it is consumed during post-processing rather than remaining in the finished part.[1]
The gel form. In the one source on file, the gel is bought ready-made as Kezlex PVA-hydrogel synthetic vessel tubing. The vessels dry easily and must remain moist.[2]
A note on the name. The initials PVA are also used for polyvinyl acetate, the white wood and craft glue sometimes called vinylic glue. That is a different polymer from polyvinyl alcohol and is not the material described on this page.
Tissues
| Tissue | Visual | Tactile | Simulator | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Structural — dissolvable print support, not tissue simulant) | Brannan Chest Tube Simulator | Dissolvable support filament for the dual-extruder FDM prints of the ribs, joints and stand. Consumable. Dissolved out of the final simulator geometry before use.[1] | ||
| Artery (donor and recipient) | Iatrotek Cerebrovascular Bypass Simulator | Purchased Kezlex PVA-hydrogel tubing for practising microvascular anastomosis. The study describes 1, 2 and 3 mm diameters and 70 mm lengths. Its validation used 2 mm vessels. Keep the vessels moist. No replacement interval is specified.[2] |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Brannan V, Dunne CL, Dubrowski A, Parsons MH (2021). "Development of a novel 3D-printed multifunctional thorax model simulator for the simulation-based training of tube thoracostomy." CJEM 23:547–550. DOI: 10.1007/s43678-021-00102-1. PMID: 33783760.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 D'Andrea M, Musio A, Colasanti R, Mongardi L, Fuschillo D, Lofrese G, Tosatto L (2023). "A novel, reusable, realistic neurosurgical training simulator for cerebrovascular bypass surgery: Iatrotek bypass simulator validation study and literature review." Frontiers in Surgery 10:1048083. DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2023.1048083. PMC: PMC9947354. PMID: 36843992. CC BY 4.0.
| Authors | Ian-laurel, Arturo Pelayo |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-4.0 |
| Cite as | Arturo Pelayo (2026). "TissueDB/Materials/Polyvinyl Alcohol". Appropedia. Retrieved November 7, 2026. |