TissueDB/Simulators/Laparoscopic Ectopic Pregnancy Simulator
The Laparoscopic Ectopic Pregnancy Simulator is a low-cost pelvic model built from locally available materials for practising laparoscopic salpingostomy and intracorporeal knot tying in the management of ectopic pregnancy.[1] A stuffed cotton sock forms the uterus. A Penrose-drain segment forms the fallopian tube and contains a playdough ectopic mass marked as a suturing target. Cotton-fabric balls represent the ovaries. Plastic wrap forms the mesosalpinx around the assembly, which is mounted on a paper plate and used inside a laparoscopic box trainer.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Features and Basic Operation | The simulator supports laparoscopic salpingostomy and intracorporeal knot-tying practice. A single circular mark on the playdough ectopic mass provides a defined suturing target. The friable dough can be evacuated during salpingostomy practice. The model is used inside a laparoscopic box trainer; a smartphone camera can be mounted to the trainer for practice and video review. |
| Current Development Status | Pilot-tested within the ALL-SAFE curriculum. ALL-SAFE reports ease-of-build/usability and Verification-of-Proficiency evidence for the ectopic-pregnancy module. Transfer to clinical patient care or patient outcomes has not been demonstrated. |
| Estimated Build Time and Cost | - - |
| Specialized Tools and Equipment | Marker or pen; Toomey syringe; stapler or fabric glue for assembly. The source requires several cutting and trimming actions but does not identify the cutting implement, so an appropriate ordinary cutting tool is a required-by-action prerequisite rather than a source-specified tool. The completed model is used inside a laparoscopic box trainer with laparoscopic instruments supplied for training. A smartphone camera can optionally be mounted on the trainer for video review. |
| Version | 1.0 |
| Development Team Contact Information | ALL-SAFE Consortium — Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons, University of Michigan, Southern Illinois University, Soddo Christian Hospital, AIC Kijabe Hospital, and Mbingo Baptist Hospital. |
Tissues
| Tissue | Qty | Material | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uterus | 1 | Large cotton sock | - | The toe is stuffed to form the uterine fundus. The foot is folded and secured to form the uterine body. The source uses the sock directly as the uterus representation. |
| Fallopian tube | 1 | Penrose drain; a small plastic glove is a source-listed alternative if a Penrose drain is unavailable | - | The tube contains the ectopic mass. Its ends are cut into several short slits to form fimbriae. Preserve both source-listed material forms rather than replacing the alternative with a downstream class label. |
| Ectopic mass | 1 | Playdough; alternatively home-made dough from flour, salt, Nescafe or food colouring, and water | - | The dough is injected into the fallopian-tube representation and forms the friable ectopic implantation. A single circular mark identifies the target for suturing practice. Water is a recipe ingredient and is not a TissueDB Materials-page target. |
| Mesosalpinx / peritoneum | 1 assembly | Plastic wrap | - | Two sheets are pressed around the uterus, tubes and ovaries and then trimmed to form the mesosalpinx/peritoneal investment while maintaining access to the operative targets. |
| Ovaries | 2 | Cotton fabric | - | Small pieces of cotton fabric are folded into balls and positioned near the tube origins for anatomical orientation. |
Structural Parts
| Part Name | Qty | Material | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uterine stuffing | As needed | Matched sock, fabric, or lap pad | - | Fills the cotton-sock uterus to create the fundus and uterine body. The source lists these materials as availability-based alternatives. They are stuffing rather than separate anatomy targets. |
| Tubal ligatures | 2 | Suture ties | - | One tie is placed approximately one third of the way along the tube. A second tie retains the dough ectopic mass within the tube. |
| Securing tape | As needed | Tape | - | Secures the completed pelvic model to the paper plate and the plate to the working surface. |
| Assembly platform | 1 | Paper plate | - | Supports the pelvic assembly during construction and use. |
| Assembly fastener | As needed | Staples or fabric glue | - | The source lists "fabric glue or stapler." These fasteners close the folded sock, secure the fabric ovaries and attach the Penrose-drain tube to the uterine fundus. |
Build Instructions
Editorial prerequisite: have an appropriate ordinary cutting implement available before beginning. The source requires trimming fabric and the sock and cutting slits in the Penrose drain or substitute glove, but it does not specify the cutting-tool type.
Phase 1: Make the uterus
Step 1. Stuff the toe of one large cotton sock with cotton material. The source allows a matched sock, fabric or lap pad according to availability. This forms the uterine fundus.
Step 2. Fold the sides of the sock foot inward to narrow the uterine body.
Step 3. Secure the folded material with fabric glue or staples.
Step 4. Trim excess material as required.
Phase 2: Make the ovaries
Step 1. Prepare small pieces of cotton fabric approximately 5 × 5 cm.
Step 2. Fold each piece into a rounded ball.
Step 3. Secure the folded ends with staples or fabric glue.
Step 4. Prepare two ovaries.
Phase 3: Prepare the ectopic mass
Step 1. Use playdough where available. The source notes that a bright colour improves visibility during camera-based training.
Source-listed home-made alternative:
- ½ cup flour
- ⅛ cup salt
- ⅛ cup Nescafe
- ¼ cup water
Food colouring can be used as an alternative colouring ingredient.
Step 2. Mix the ingredients to form a soft dough ball.
Step 3. Adjust the mixture with additional flour or water if it is too soft or too hard.
Phase 4: Prepare the fallopian tube
Step 1. Use a Penrose drain. If a Penrose drain is unavailable, the source permits a small plastic glove as an alternative.
Step 2. Place a suture tie approximately one third of the way along one end of the tube representation.
Step 3. Fill a Toomey syringe with the prepared dough.
Step 4. Inject approximately 5–10 cc of dough into the tube until the ectopic mass is the required size.
Step 5. Place a second suture tie to keep the dough mass in position.
Step 6. Use a marker or pen to draw one circular mark on the superior aspect of the ectopic mass. This is the source-defined suturing target.
Step 7. Cut three to four approximately 1 cm slits into the ends of the tube to form the fimbriae.
Phase 5: Attach the tubes and ovaries
Step 1. Position the centre of the Penrose drain at the uterine fundus.
Step 2. Secure it with a stapler or fabric glue so that the two tube portions extend to either side.
Step 3. Position the two cotton-fabric ovaries near the tube origins.
Phase 6: Form the mesosalpinx
Step 1. Place a sheet of plastic wrap on the work surface.
Step 2. Arrange the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries on the sheet in the source-described anatomical configuration.
Step 3. Place a second sheet of plastic wrap over the assembly.
Step 4. Press the sheets together around the components.
Step 5. Trim the plastic wrap to form the mesosalpinx/peritoneal investment without restricting access to the operative structures.
Phase 7: Mount the simulator
Step 1. Tape the completed pelvic model to a paper plate.
Step 2. Tape the paper plate to the table or other working surface for stability.
Step 3. Place the assembly inside the laparoscopic box trainer for use.
Training use
The model supports laparoscopic salpingostomy and intracorporeal knot-tying practice.
The circular mark on the ectopic mass is the suturing target. The friable dough can be evacuated during the simulated salpingostomy.
A smartphone camera can be mounted on the laparoscopic box trainer where video review is used.
Source and ontology boundaries
- The ALL-SAFE build directly supports the Uterus, Fallopian Tube, Ectopic Mass, Mesosalpinx/Peritoneum and Ovary relationships listed above.
- No verified source for a separate Vinyl Tubing → Blood Vessel enhancement has been recovered for this simulator. Do not add or attribute such a relationship to this ALL-SAFE build.
- The source states no component prices or total build cost.
- The source states no total build time.
- Downstream TissueDB class routing must not rewrite the physical material wording given in the developer build.
- No Structures implementation is introduced by this correction.
| Alternative names | Ectopic Pregnancy Simulator |
|---|
| Authors | Arturopelayo |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-4.0 |
| Cite as | Arturopelayo (2026). "TissueDB/Simulators/Laparoscopic Ectopic Pregnancy Simulator". Appropedia. Retrieved September 13, 2026. |
- ↑ ALL-SAFE Consortium. ALL-SAFE Ectopic Pregnancy Simulation Build Instructions. Build instructions PDF on Appropedia; module page: ALL-SAFE Ectopic Pregnancy. Build-instruction document not indexed in PubMed; primary source linked directly.