TissueDB/Simulators/Bowel Anastomosis Simulator (Habti)
General Information
Hand-sewn bowel anastomosis joins two cut ends of small bowel with sutures. The Habti Bowel Anastomosis Simulator lets a trainee practise this hand-sewn repair on a silicone bowel segment that is cast in a 3D-printed mold and held for suturing by a 3D-printed tabletop clamp.[1]
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| General Information | The mold and clamp design files are shared publicly by the development team under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence (non-commercial, so they cannot be rehosted on Appropedia). The simulator can be used in a simulation laboratory or for at-home practice. Direct source: Habti et al. 2021, Cureus.[1] |
| Features and Basic Operation | Used to practise a hand-sewn bowel anastomosis. One 3D-printed mold casts up to four 30 cm silicone bowel segments; the printed maxSIMclamp+ holds a segment to the bench so the trainee can suture it. The silicone segment is replaced between uses while the mold and clamp are reused.[1] |
| Current Development Status | Built and evaluated in a pilot randomised controlled trial with junior surgical residents.[2] |
| Estimated Build Time and Cost | About CA$35 for the first build — a one-time cost covering the reusable mold (CA$21.60) and the clamp (CA$4.80) plus the silicone for one segment (CA$8.00); after that, about CA$8 in silicone per additional bowel segment, since the mold and clamp are reused. Figures are the source's, in Canadian dollars (Cureus 2021).[1] |
| Specialized Tools and Equipment | An FDM 3D printer (the source used an Ultimaker S5) with PLA filament, and the reusable 3D-printed mold used to cast the silicone bowel segment. No special instruments are needed to use the finished model beyond standard suturing tools.[1] |
| Version | Not stated in source. |
| Development Team Contact Information | Co-developed by the maxSIMhealth laboratory (Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada) and the Department of Surgery / Surgical Oncology Service, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM). Lead author Merieme Habti; corresponding author email merieme.habti@umontreal.ca.[1][2] |
Tissues
| Tissue | Qty | Material | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Intestine | 1 | Ecoflex 00-30 | — | A thin-walled silicone segment with a replicated mucosal surface; clinicians confirmed it represents small-bowel tissue and holds sutures, but it tears more easily than real bowel, so wider suture bites are needed.[1] |
Structural Parts
| Part Name | Qty | Material | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| maxSIMclamp+ (3D-printed tabletop clamp) | 1 | PLA | — | Holds the silicone bowel segment to the bench during suturing; resized from a clamp originally developed for an infant intraosseous infusion (neonatal resuscitation) simulator.[1] |
Build Instructions
Phase 1: Print the mold and clamp
- Download the development team's publicly shared STL files (released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence), or design the bowel anatomy in Fusion360 (Autodesk) from public medical illustrations and Creative Commons digital models.[1]
- Transfer the files to an FDM 3D printer (the source used an Ultimaker S5) via SD card.
- Print the reusable bowel mold in white PLA filament (the source used 3D-Fuel Pro PLA); one mold uses about 720 g.
- Print the maxSIMclamp+ (top and bottom parts) in the same PLA filament; one clamp uses about 160 g.
Checkpoint: The mold interior must be smooth and free of layer artefacts so the cast silicone takes a realistic mucosal surface texture.
Phase 2: Cast the silicone bowel
- Mix the Ecoflex 00-30 silicone (Smooth-On) following the manufacturer's instructions.
- Pour the mixed silicone into the 3D-printed mold.
- Allow it to cure at room temperature (about 4 hours per the Smooth-On product specification).
- Demould the segment. One mold yields up to four 30 cm bowel segments.[1]
Checkpoint: The finished segment should show a mucosal surface texture and accept suturing without tearing immediately. The development team reported testing a version with power mesh fabric (80% nylon / 20% spandex) embedded during casting to reduce tearing; this was still under development at publication.[1]
Phase 3: Assemble the simulator
- Place the silicone bowel segment between the top and bottom parts of the maxSIMclamp+.
- Secure the assembly with the four latching-style clamps.
- Attach the maxSIMclamp+ to a tabletop or workbench.[1]
Checkpoint: The segment must be held without slipping while suturing. Learners noted the clamp's suction cups did not always adhere to the table, so check stability before starting.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 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. PMC: PMC8765572.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Habti M, Bénard F, Meloche-Dumas L, Bérubé S, Cadoret D, Arutiunian A, Papas Y, Torres A, Kapralos B, Mercier F, Dubrowski A, Patocskai E (2023). "Hand Sewn Anastomosis Skill Acquisition and In Vivo Transfer Using 3D-Printed Small Bowel Simulator." J Surg Res 288:225–232. DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2023.03.004. PMID: 37030179.
| Authors | Arturopelayo |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-4.0 |
| Cite as | Arturopelayo (2026). "TissueDB/Simulators/Bowel Anastomosis Simulator (Habti)". Appropedia. Retrieved June 4, 2026. |