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TissueDB/Simulators/Chest Tube Simulator (Brannan)

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The Brannan Chest Tube Simulator is a low-cost, multifunctional 3D-printed thorax model for training tube thoracostomy in medical learners. It combines a rigid printed bony thorax with flexible joints, a replaceable silicone skin section, and an internal air cavity with a heart and balloon "lungs."[1]

Field Details
Features and Basic Operation The large silicone skin overlay carries a small replaceable cut-out window at the insertion site, so the model is reused between learners without replacing the whole skin. Two balloon "lungs" can be inflated through a bag-valve-mask setup. The authors note the platform is extensible to further high-acuity, low-occurrence procedures.
Current Development Status Initial prototype; evaluated for realism, not yet validated.
Estimated Build Time and Cost US$140
Specialized Tools and Equipment Build: Ultimaker 3 3D Printer (PLA + soluble PVA support for the bony thorax and support stand); Airwolf Axiom Dual Direct Drive 3D Printer (TPE 90A flexible joints with PVA support); Autodesk Meshmixer 3.5 (STL separation of the ribcage into anatomical components); Autodesk Fusion 360 (support-stand design). Use: a chest tube (the instrument used to perform the tube thoracostomy being practised); a bag valve mask for inflating the simulated air cavity.
Version Version 1
Development Team Contact Information V. Brannan (corresponding, vb6161@mun.ca), Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland. Co-authors: C. L. Dunne (Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Calgary); A. Dubrowski (Canada Research Chair in HealthCare Simulation, maxSIMhealth Collaborative, Ontario Tech University); M. H. Parsons (Department of Emergency Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland).

Tissues

Tissue Qty Material Cost Notes
Bone (ribs, sternum, clavicles) 1 set PLA with PVA support — Bony scaffold of the thorax; the source prints the ribs, sternum, and clavicles as separate pieces in ivory PLA with soluble PVA support. The source also lists a flexible spine among the five printed elements but does not specify its filament.
Skin 1 overlay Ecoflex 00-30 (top) + Soma Foama 15 (middle expanding foam) + Dragon Skin 10 (innermost) — Three-layer silicone laminate with a small replaceable patch, allowing repeated use between learners.
Heart (3D-printed) 1 Not specified in source — Anatomically realistic 3D-printed heart integrated into the model.
Trachea (air-path tube) 1 Plastic tubing — Plastic-tubing air path from the bag valve mask to the balloon “lungs.”
Lungs (air cavities) 2 Balloon (punching balloons) — Two punching balloons, inflated via the bag-valve-mask setup.
Flexible joints (rib–sternum and rib–spine) — TPE 90A with PVA support — Flexible joints between the ribs and the sternum and between the ribs and the spine, where flexibility was required.


Structural Parts

Part Name Qty Material Cost Notes
Support stand 1 PLA — Printed stand that holds the thorax in working orientation.


Build Instructions

Phase 1: 3D-Print the Rigid Skeleton

  1. Step 1: Obtain the thoracic ribcage base geometry from Thingiverse thing:1543880 (Rodriquez A., MakerBot 2016, spelling per source).
  2. Step 2: Separate the single STL into its five elements — the ribcage, sternum, two clavicles, and spine — using Autodesk Meshmixer 3.5.
  3. Step 3: Print the ribcage, sternum, and two clavicles in ivory polylactic acid (PLA) with soluble polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) support on an Ultimaker 3 dual-extruder printer. The source does not state the filament used for the flexible spine element.
  4. Step 4: Print the support stand in PLA on the Ultimaker 3, designed in Autodesk Fusion 360.
  5. Step 5: Dissolve the soluble PVA support material after printing. Source does not specify the solvent, dissolution time, or temperature.

Source does not report infill percentage, layer height, print orientation, nozzle temperature, or print time.

Phase 2: 3D-Print the Flexible Joints

  1. Step 6: Print the flexible joints in thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) 90A with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) support on an Airwolf Axiom Dual Direct Drive printer.
  2. Step 7: Dissolve the PVA support after printing.

Source describes the joints as located "such as between the ribs and sternum" and states that ribs requiring flexibility were fixed to the sternum and spine using them. Joint geometry, print settings, and the exact number of joints printed are not reported.

Phase 3: Pour the Three-Layer Skin Overlay

  1. Step 8: Pour the top layer of the skin laminate using Smooth-On Ecoflex 00-30.
  2. Step 9: Pour the middle layer using Smooth-On expanding silicone foam Soma Foama 15.
  3. Step 10: Pour the innermost layer using Smooth-On Dragon Skin 10.
  4. Step 11: Prepare a replaceable cut-out window using the same triple-layer composition.

Source states the layers were poured successively onto a flat surface and then cut to size, but does not specify pour depth, layer thickness, cure conditions, or mould geometry.

Phase 4: Assemble the Internal Air-Cavity System

  1. Step 12: Construct the internal "lungs" from two punching balloons connected to plastic tubing acting as the "trachea."
  2. Step 13: Connect the balloon "lung" assembly to a bag valve mask so the system is inflatable using the bag valve mask setup.
  3. Step 14: Install the 3D-printed heart in the thoracic cavity.
  4. Step 15: Secure all internal components inside the 3D-printed rib framework.

Source does not specify balloon brand or volume, plastic tubing bore or length, BVM make or model, the junction fittings between components, or the STL source of the 3D-printed heart.

Phase 5: Assemble the Final Simulator

  1. Step 16: Assemble the bony thorax — bond the non-flexible junctions (for example, between the sternum and the clavicles) with glue, and join the junctions that require flexibility (between the ribs and the sternum, and between the ribs and the spine) using the printed flexible joints.
  2. Step 17: Mount the skin overlay over the assembled ribcage so that the replaceable cut-out window is positioned at the intended chest-tube insertion site.
  3. Step 18: Mount the assembly on the PLA support stand.

Source does not document the fixation method between the skin overlay and the ribcage.



References

  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.




Simulator data
Alternative names 3D-printed multifunctional thorax model simulator (full descriptive name given in the source paper title).



Page data
Keywords chest tube, tube thoracostomy, 3D-printed thorax, PLA ribcage, silicone skin, balloon lungs, Brannan, low-cost simulator, TissueDB
SDG
Authors Arturopelayo
License CC-BY-SA-4.0
Language English (en)
Related 0 subpages, 11 pages link here
Redirects TissueDB/Simulators/Brannan Chest Tube Simulator
Views 34 page views (analytics)
Created April 18, 2026 by Arturo Pelayo
Last edit June 21, 2026 by Arturo Pelayo
Cite as Arturopelayo (2026). "TissueDB/Simulators/Chest Tube Simulator (Brannan)". Appropedia. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
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