TissueDB/Simulators/Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernioplasty TAPP 3D Simulator (Pires de Melo Filho)
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HerniLap 3D is a low-cost, 3D-printed training model for transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) laparoscopic inguinal hernioplasty.[1] The model uses a 3D-printed male pelvis painted with gouache to anatomy-book colours, a synthetic-rubber Cooper's-ligament substitute, a masking-tape and Contact-adhesive-paper peritoneal overlay, and a latex-glove hernial sac inserted into a sphere-shaped Boolean-modifier defect cut into the pelvis. The transparent peritoneal overlay lets the trainee see the painted anatomical structures beneath it, as in the real procedure.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Features and Basic Operation | What it does: Lets a trainee rehearse all five stages of the TAPP inguinal-hernia repair on a single bench model — opening the preperitoneal space, identifying the inguinal structures, reducing the hernia, placing and tacking the mesh to Cooper's ligament, and closing the peritoneum. Reproduction: After the master model was completed, four similar copies were reproduced from it. |
| Current Development Status | Pilot-tested in a single-centre, non-randomised study; not a randomised controlled trial, and transfer of skills to the operating room was not evaluated. |
| Estimated Build Time and Cost | — (not stated in source) |
| Specialized Tools and Equipment | Fabrication toolchain (named in the source): a 3D printer (the source does not state the filament type or print parameters); Blender 2.79 on Windows 10 for the model geometry, starting from the "Male Pelvis Section" reference file from TurboSquid and applying a sphere-shaped Boolean modifier (difference operation) to cut the hernial defect; two flat Condor brushes and gouache ink for painting the anatomy. For use: the finished model is set inside a laparoscopic box trainer, with the trocar distances and camera position adjusted to make the simulation as realistic as possible; the repair is performed with laparoscopic instruments, and a stapler/tacker fixes the mesh. |
| Version | Version 1 |
| Development Team Contact Information | Developed by Luís Pires de Melo Filho and Alexandra Mano Almeida (Department of General Surgery, Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Fortaleza) with Edgar Marçal de Barros Filho (Postgraduate Program in Computer Science) and Gleydson Cesar de Oliveira Borges (Professional Master's Degree in Minimally Invasive Technology and Simulation in Health) of Centro Universitário Christus, Fortaleza-CE, Brazil. The model was developed and applied at the Laboratory of Surgical Skills and the Laboratory of Technological Innovation of Centro Universitário Unichristus. Corresponding author: Luís Pires de Melo Filho (luisfilho4@hotmail.com). |
Tissues
| Tissue | Qty | Material | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pelvis | 1 | 3D-printed male pelvis (Blender 2.79 model from the TurboSquid Male Pelvis Section reference; filament not specified in the source) | — | Painted in anatomy-book colours; the painted detail renders the Stage-2 structures (lower epigastric and gonadal vessels, vas deferens). A sphere-shaped Boolean modifier cuts the inguinal hernia defect. |
| Cooper's Ligament | 1 | Synthetic rubber | — | Fixed beside the hernial defect; firm enough to accept stapler tackers so the mesh can be fixed as in the real procedure. Enables Stage 4 (mesh placement and fixation). |
| Peritoneum | 1 | Masking tape and Contact adhesive paper | — | Transparent overlay over the abdominal cavity, so the painted structures and the hernial sac stay visible. Enables Stage 1 (opening) and Stage 5 (closure). |
| Hernia Sac | 1 | Latex glove | — | Inserted into the spheroidal hernial defect and adhered to the peritoneal overlay. Enables Stage 3 (hernia identification and reduction). |
Consumables
| Consumable | Quantity | Material | Approximate Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laparoscopic mesh | 1 per use | Commercial surgical mesh | — | Placed over the hernial defect and fixed to the Cooper's-ligament substitute during Stage 4; a commercial use-time item, not part of the built model. |
Build Instructions
Phase 1: Anatomical model design
- Obtain the "Male Pelvis Section" reference file from TurboSquid.
- Open the reference file in Blender 2.79 on Windows 10.
- Apply a sphere-shaped Boolean modifier with a difference operation to create the direct inguinal hernia defect in the pelvis model.
Phase 2: 3D print and finish
- 3D-print the pelvis model. The source does not state the filament type or print parameters.
- Paint the printed pelvis with two flat Condor brushes using gouache ink in anatomy-book colours to characterise the anatomical structures.
Phase 3: Tissue substitutes
- Fix synthetic rubber very close to the hernial defect to simulate Cooper's ligament. The rubber must be firm enough for stapler tackers to fix the mesh as in the real procedure.
- Cover the internal model surface corresponding to the abdominal cavity with masking tape, then with Contact adhesive paper, to represent the peritoneum. Keep the overlay transparent so the structures beneath remain visible.
- Insert a latex glove into the spheroidal hernial defect to represent the hernial sac, and adhere it to the masking-tape and Contact-adhesive overlay.
Phase 4: Reproduction
- After finishing the master model, reproduce four similar copies using the same procedure.
References
- ↑ Pires de Melo Filho L, Mano Almeida A, Marçal de Barros Filho E, de Oliveira Borges GC. Simulated training model in a low cost for laparoscopic inguinal hernioplasty. Acta Cir Bras. 2021;36(1):e360108. doi:10.1590/ACB360108. CC BY 4.0.
| Authors | Arturopelayo |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-4.0 |
| Cite as | Arturopelayo (2026). "TissueDB/Simulators/Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernioplasty TAPP 3D Simulator (Pires de Melo Filho)". Appropedia. Retrieved June 24, 2026. |