TissueDB/Materials/Silicone, Castable
(Redirected from TissueDB/Materials/Silicone)
License: CC-BY-SA-3.0 by Pfehrman
Silicone (polydimethylsiloxane/PDMS) is a two-part elastomer used in surgical simulation to create durable soft tissue models. Silicone can be formulated to match mechanical properties of various tissues by adjusting durometer (hardness), and accepts pigmentation to replicate tissue colours.
Tissues
| Tissue | Visual | Tactile | Simulator | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skin | Yes | Yes | ALL-SAFE Trocar Placement, Z-Plasty Simulator, AmoSmile Physical Simulator, Thoracoscopic Diaphragmatic Hernia Repair Simulator (Barsness), Pediatric Inguinal Hernia Repair Simulator (Heo), Chest Tube Insertion Simulator (Brannan) | For skin, authors specify Shore 00-30 to 00-50 (e.g. Ecoflex 00-30); Dragon Skin 10 also used. Several add skin-tone pigment for colour match; typically considered suture-compatible. In the Brannan chest-tube laminate the top skin layer is Ecoflex 00-30 and the innermost, ribcage-facing layer is Dragon Skin 10; layer thickness and pour depth are not specified in the source.[1] |
| Adipose tissue | Yes | Yes | AmoSmile Physical Simulator | Use softer mixes for fat (Shore 00-10 to 00-20), yellow-tinted. Ultra-soft formulation for fat layer compression. |
| Cricothyroid membrane | Partial | Partial | Gauger Cricothyroidotomy Trainer, Kovatch Pediatric FONA Simulator | Used for the Cricothyroid-membrane region of the medical-grade silicone laryngotracheal model.[2] |
| Thyroid cartilage | Partial | Partial | Gauger Cricothyroidotomy Trainer, Kovatch Pediatric FONA Simulator | Simulates the Thyroid-cartilage landmark of the medical-grade silicone laryngotracheal model.[2] |
| Cricoid cartilage | Partial | Partial | Gauger Cricothyroidotomy Trainer, Kovatch Pediatric FONA Simulator | Used for the Cricoid-cartilage landmark of the medical-grade silicone laryngotracheal model.[2] |
| Trachea | Partial | Partial | Gauger Cricothyroidotomy Trainer, Kovatch Pediatric FONA Simulator | Medical-grade silicone laryngotracheal airway model; Kovatch model cast in Shore 45.[2] |
| Liver | Partial | Partial | Intra-abdominal Bleeding Simulator (Fernandes) | Cast from plaster mold of real anatomical specimen; fixed in anatomical position with hot glue (Fernandes et al. 2023).[3] |
| Spleen | Partial | Partial | Intra-abdominal Bleeding Simulator (Fernandes) | Cast from plaster mold of real anatomical specimen; fixed in anatomical position (Fernandes et al. 2023).[3] |
| Stomach | Partial | Partial | Intra-abdominal Bleeding Simulator (Fernandes) | Cast from plaster mold of real anatomical specimen; peritoneal organ positioned after retroperitoneal structures (Fernandes et al. 2023).[3] |
| Kidney | Partial | Partial | Intra-abdominal Bleeding Simulator (Fernandes) | Cast from plaster mold of real anatomical specimen; retroperitoneal positioning with renal arteries and veins (Fernandes et al. 2023).[3] |
| Pancreas | Partial | Partial | Intra-abdominal Bleeding Simulator (Fernandes) | Cast from plaster mold of real anatomical specimen; retroperitoneal organ positioned behind stomach (Fernandes et al. 2023).[3] |
| Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue | Partial | Partial | Almeida Suture Simulator | Acetic silicone (20 g) mixed with maize starch (11 g) to form a 6 cm circular suture pad; provides suturable surface but no skin layer differentiation (Almeida et al. 2023).[4] |
| Hard palate mucoperiosteum | Partial | Partial | Cleft Palate Repair Simulator (Nicholas) | Single liftable silicone layer cast on the reusable 3D-printed VeroWhite skeletal base, representing the hard-palate oral mucosa with attached periosteum for vomerine mucosal flap dissection. Silicone shore hardness per layer is not specified in the source paper. Source: Nicholas R et al. 2022, J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 75:3817–3825. DOI 10.1016/j.bjps.2022.06.079. PMID 36068135. |
| Soft palate oral mucosa | Partial | Partial | Cleft Palate Repair Simulator (Nicholas) | Silicone layer cast on the reusable VeroWhite skeletal base, representing the oral surface of the soft palate. Silicone shore hardness not specified in the source paper. Source: Nicholas R et al. 2022, J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 75:3817–3825. DOI 10.1016/j.bjps.2022.06.079. PMID 36068135. |
| Soft palate nasal mucosa | Partial | Partial | Cleft Palate Repair Simulator (Nicholas) | Silicone layer cast on the reusable VeroWhite skeletal base, representing the nasal surface of the soft palate. Silicone shore hardness not specified in the source paper. Source: Nicholas R et al. 2022, J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 75:3817–3825. DOI 10.1016/j.bjps.2022.06.079. PMID 36068135. |
| Velar musculature | Partial | Partial | Cleft Palate Repair Simulator (Nicholas) | Silicone layer cast on the reusable VeroWhite skeletal base, representing the levator veli palatini and tensor veli palatini — the muscular targets of intra-velar veloplasty. Silicone shore hardness not specified in the source paper. Source: Nicholas R et al. 2022, J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 75:3817–3825. DOI 10.1016/j.bjps.2022.06.079. PMID 36068135. |
| Urethra | Partial | Partial | Urinary Catheterization Simulator (Gillis) | Silicon urethral tube of approximately 178 mm length and 7 mm internal diameter (specific silicone grade not stated in source); attaches via FDM-printed PLA curved barbed connector to Grey Pro SLA-printed one-way valve body. Source: Gillis CJ, Bishop N, Walsh G, Harvey D 2020, Cureus 12(5):e8377. DOI 10.7759/cureus.8377. PMID 32626621. PMC PMC7328704. |
| Penis | Partial | Yes | Urinary Catheterization Simulator (Gillis) | Smooth-On 00-30 platinum-cure silicone (Smooth-On, Inc., Easton, Pennsylvania) cast over a mould to produce the external genitalia. 00-30 Shore A durometer matches soft-tissue compliance required for the operator to grip, retract, and angulate the penile shaft during catheter insertion. Source: Gillis CJ, Bishop N, Walsh G, Harvey D 2020, Cureus 12(5):e8377. DOI 10.7759/cureus.8377. PMID 32626621. PMC PMC7328704. |
| Diaphragm | Partial | Partial | Thoracoscopic Diaphragmatic Hernia Repair Simulator (Barsness) | Platinum-cured silicone rubber cast as artificial neonatal diaphragm with posterior lateral defect, anchored to the 3D-printed rib cage with eyehooks installed around the 11th rib. Source-rated 3.83 / 5 realism. $2 (2013 USD) combined cost with the artificial intestines. Source: Barsness KA, Rooney DM, Davis LM 2013, J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech 23(8):714–718. DOI 10.1089/lap.2013.0196. PMID 23789735. |
| Bile Duct | Partial | Partial | Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Simulator (Casas-Murillo) | P53 Silicone Rubber cast in a 2-part Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene negative mold designed in SolidWorks 2016. Models the extrahepatic biliary system in one normal cystic-duct anatomy and three insertion variants for laparoscopic cholecystectomy training. Source: Casas-Murillo C et al. 2021, Surg Radiol Anat 43(4):537–544. DOI 10.1007/s00276-020-02631-3. PMID 33386458. |
| Gallbladder | Partial | Yes | Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Simulator (Casas-Murillo) | P53 Silicone Rubber cast continuous with the bile-duct silicone in a single 2-part negative mold; held in position by a wire pulling the gallbladder over the liver scaffold. Source-rated overall Texture 4.5/5 and Consistency 4.3/5 on the aggregate simulator (Likert-5, n=13). Source: Casas-Murillo C et al. 2021, Surg Radiol Anat 43(4):537–544. DOI 10.1007/s00276-020-02631-3. PMID 33386458. |
| Cystic Artery | Partial | Partial | Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Simulator (Casas-Murillo) | P53 Silicone Rubber cast together with the right hepatic artery in a separate 2-part Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene mold; stapled to the gallbladder. Source: Casas-Murillo C et al. 2021, Surg Radiol Anat 43(4):537–544. DOI 10.1007/s00276-020-02631-3. PMID 33386458. |
| Preperitoneal Fat | Partial | Yes | Pediatric Inguinal Hernia Repair Simulator (Heo) | Ecoflex 00-30 silicone cast in a dedicated mold to form modular preperitoneal-fat wedges integrated into the cartridge assembly. Source: Heo et al. 2025, J Pediatr Surg 60:162232. |
| Cremaster Muscle | Partial | Partial | Pediatric Inguinal Hernia Repair Simulator (Heo) | Red threads embedded in a silicone cast simulate the cremaster muscle that envelops the hernia sac during cartridge assembly. Source: Heo et al. 2025, J Pediatr Surg 60:162232. |
| Brain (cerebral parenchyma) | Partial | Partial | STA-MCA Bypass Trainer (Akdag) | Cast in a 3D-printed hemispheric mould as the left-hemisphere cerebral parenchyma for end-to-side STA–MCA bypass practice; embedded force-sensitive resistors flag heavy brain contact. Silicone grade not specified in source. Source: Akdag BA et al. 2024, World Neurosurgery 190:e665–e674. DOI 10.1016/j.wneu.2024.07.200. PMID 39098505. |
| Bowel | Partial | Partial | Bowel Anastomosis Simulator (Habti) | Ecoflex 00-30 cast in a 3D-printed mould as a single-layer bowel segment with surface mucosal texture for hand-sewn anastomosis training. Clinicians confirmed the prototype was "representative of the small bowel anastomosis tissue, especially the replicated mucosae."[5] |
| Vocal Fold | Yes | Partial | Injection Laryngoplasty Simulator (Lee) | Ecoflex 00-20 mixed 1:1, pigmented with Silc-Pig flesh tone, cast in a CT-derived PLA mould as the endolaryngeal vocal-fold insert, cured 4 hours at room temperature (Lee et al. 2021).[6] |
| Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue (middle layer) | Yes | Yes | Brannan Chest Tube Simulator | Soma Foama 15, a Smooth-On two-part platinum-cure expanding silicone foam. Per Brannan 2021: "the middle SmoothOn's expanding silicone foam SomaFoma15." Centre layer of a three-layer silicone laminate providing subcutaneous-tissue bulk and compliance between the outer (Ecoflex 00-30) and inner (Dragon Skin 10) skin layers. It expands roughly two to three times its liquid volume during cure to a soft, low-density closed-cell foam (Shore 00 hardness class). Layer thickness, pour depth, and expansion ratio in the final build are not specified in the source paper.[1] |
Troubleshooting
- Settings without mold-making capability — Requires molds, mixing equipment, and curing time. Use pre-made products or simpler materials instead.
- Rapid prototyping needs — Cure time is 4–24 hours. Plan production in advance or use quick-set alternatives like gelatin.
- Budget-constrained programs — Higher upfront costs. Consider cost-per-use; economical for high-volume training only.
Alternatives
| Alternative | Best For | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| Gelatin Mix | Quick preparation, self-healing | Limited durability; melts in warmth |
| Latex | Lower cost, good elasticity | Allergy risk; degrades over time |
| Sponge | Very low cost, colour match | Does not replicate tissue feel; tears easily |
| PVC plastisol | Lower cost alternative | Less realistic feel |
Used In Simulators
| Simulator | Purpose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Intra-abdominal Bleeding Simulator (Fernandes) | Tissue-simulating material | Silicone rubber cast from plaster molds of real anatomical specimens to create liver, spleen, stomach, kidney, and pancreas organ models (Fernandes et al. 2023).[3] |
| Almeida Suture Simulator | Tissue-simulating material | Acetic silicone (20 g) mixed with maize starch (11 g), air-dried 48 hours to form a low-cost suture training pad costing less than R$1.53 per unit (Almeida et al. 2023).[4] |
| Kovatch Pediatric FONA Simulator | Tissue-simulating material | Medical grade silicone (Shore 45) cast into a two-part PLA mold and cured at 60 °C for 6 hours to produce a pediatric (5-year-old) laryngotracheal framework with palpable tracheal rings, thyroid cartilage, cricoid cartilage, and cricothyroid membrane (Kovatch et al. 2020).[2] |
| Pediatric Inguinal Hernia Repair Simulator (Heo) | Tissue-simulating material | Ecoflex 00-30 silicone cast over power mesh fabric forms the skin and external oblique aponeurosis substrate; cast alone in dedicated molds for preperitoneal fat; embedded with red threads to simulate the cremaster muscle. Source: Heo et al. 2025, J Pediatr Surg 60:162232. |
| Brannan Chest Tube Simulator | Middle (subcutaneous-bulk) layer of the three-layer skin laminate | Poured flat, cut to shape. The replaceable cut-out window uses the same triple-layer composition. |
References
[edit source]- ↑ 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 2.2 2.3 2.4 Kovatch KJ, Powell AR, Green K, Reighard CL, Green GE, Gauger VT, Rooney DM, Zopf DA. Development and Multidisciplinary Preliminary Validation of a 3-Dimensional-Printed Pediatric Airway Model for Emergency Airway Front-of-Neck Access Procedures. Anesth Analg 2020;130(2):445–451. DOI: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000003774. PMID 30234534.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 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. PMC: PMC10618030.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Almeida NRC, Braga JP, Bentes LGB, Lemos RS, Fernandes MRN, Andrade GL, Araújo VMM, Santos DRD, Yasojima EY. Low-cost suture simulator to gain basic surgical skills. Acta Cir Bras 2023;38:e384223. DOI: 10.1590/acb384223. PMID: 37851786.
- ↑ Habti M, Bénard F, Arutiunian A, Bérubé S, Cadoret D, Meloche-Dumas L, Torres A, Kapralos B, Mercier F, Dubrowski A, Patocskai E (2021). "Development and Learner-Based Assessment of a Novel, Customized, 3D Printed Small Bowel Simulator for Hand-Sewn Anastomosis Training." Cureus 13(12):e20536. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.20536. PMID: 35070566.
- ↑ Lee M, Ang C, Andreadis K, Shin J, Rameau A. An open-source three-dimensionally printed laryngeal model for injection laryngoplasty training. Laryngoscope 2021;131(3):E890–E895. DOI: 10.1002/lary.28952. PMID: 32750164.
At a Glance
Overview
[edit source]Silicone provides consistent, durable tissue models for surgical simulation. Available in a wide range of durometers (Shore 00-10 to Shore A 40+), enabling formulation for soft tissues (fat, vessels) through firm structures (organ surfaces). Two-part platinum-cure systems (e.g. Smooth-On Ecoflex, Dragon Skin) are most common in simulation. Indefinite shelf life at room temperature; tolerates hundreds of use sessions without degradation.
Synonyms
[edit source]Common names: Silicone rubber, PDMS, Polydimethylsiloxane, Two-part silicone, Platinum-cure silicone, RTV silicone
Trade names: Dragon Skin, Ecoflex, Ecoflex 00-30, Smooth-On, Smooth-Sil, Silastic, Soma Foama 15, SomaFoma 15
Regional terms: Silicone (French), Silicone (Italian), Silicona (Spanish), Silikon (German), Siliconen (Dutch)
Forms: Silicone sheet, silicone tubing, silicone mold, liquid silicone, cured silicone, medical-grade silicone
Shelf Life & Storage
| Temp Range | Humidity | Surface Reuse | Shelf Life | Spoilage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ambient (15–25 °C) | Dry (<60%) | Hundreds of sessions | 2+ years unopened | None (remains stable) |
Background