TissueDB/Simulators/Injection Laryngoplasty Simulator (Lee)
(Redirected from TissueDB/Simulators/Lee Injection Laryngoplasty Simulator)
General Information
The Lee Injection Laryngoplasty Simulator is an open-source, low-cost, 3D-printed laryngeal model for training percutaneous injection laryngoplasty (PIL). A rigid 3D-printed cartilage framework provides the palpable thyroid-cartilage, cricoid-cartilage and hyoid-bone landmarks for locating the injection site, and a removable silicone insert cast from Ecoflex 00-20 represents the vocal folds and surrounding soft tissue — the needle target. The trainee palpates the landmarks, passes a needle percutaneously through the thyrohyoid or cricothyroid approach, and injects the vocal fold; injected air confirms placement. All 3D-print and mold files are published open-source on Wikifactory.[1]
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| General Information | The first open-source, low-cost 3D-printed laryngeal model designed specifically for percutaneous injection laryngoplasty training. All print and mold files are published open-source for download and modification at the project's Wikifactory repository.[1] |
| Features and Basic Operation | A rigid 3D-printed cartilage framework (thyroid-, cricoid- and hyoid-bone landmarks) holding a removable Ecoflex 00-20 silicone endolarynx that represents the vocal folds and soft tissue, pigmented pink. The trainee palpates the cartilage landmarks, passes a 25-gauge needle percutaneously via the thyrohyoid or cricothyroid approach, and injects the vocal fold; injecting air shows correct placement. The materials are durable, allowing the model to be reused over extended periods.[1] |
| Current Development Status | Evaluated by 10 expert laryngologists in a survey assessing face and content validity; the authors state it is not yet validated in an educational setting.[1] |
| Estimated Build Time and Cost | About one day per silicone insert (overnight silicone cure).[1], ~US$2.85 per build |
| Specialized Tools and Equipment | 3D printer — the authors used a Stratasys Fortus 250mc and report that consumer printers (Creality Ender 3, from about US$209; MakerBot Replicator) work without substantial loss of quality. Filament: ABS for the framework and the mold; PLA and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) were also tested, TPU being pierceable for a transthyroid-approach variant. A four-piece negative injection mold, 3D-printed in ABS (~US$1.54, reusable). A 60-mL catheter-tip syringe and silicone tubing for injecting the silicone, and standard M3 nuts and bolts to clamp the mold. Free software: 3D Slicer 4.10.1 and Blender 2.79.2; Autodesk Fusion 360 (free for educational use). A CT scan of the upper airway (the authors used an anonymized scan from The Cancer Imaging Archive). A 25-gauge needle for injection practice. For builders without a printer, an online printing service runs about US$4.99 for the framework and US$9.39 for the mold (PLA). All STL print and mold files: Wikifactory repository.[1] |
| Version | Not stated in source |
| Development Team Contact Information | Developed by Mark Lee, Chelston Ang, Katerina Andreadis, James Shin and Anaïs Rameau at the Sean Parker Institute for the Voice, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (and Department of Radiology), Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, USA. Corresponding author: Anaïs Rameau (anr2783@med.cornell.edu). Builders can also post questions on the project's Wikifactory discussion board.[1] |
Tissues
| Tissue | Qty | Material | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vocal Fold | 1 | Ecoflex 00-20 | ~US$1.89 | Soft silicone endolarynx representing the vocal folds and surrounding soft tissue; the needle target, pigmented pink with Silc-Pig (PMS 7421C and 488C).[1] |
| Thyroid Cartilage | 1 | ABS | ~US$0.96 | Part of the single-piece 3D-printed cartilage framework; this filament cost covers the whole framework print. Palpable landmark for the thyrohyoid approach.[1] |
| Cricoid Cartilage | 1 | ABS | — | Part of the same single-piece ABS framework print (filament cost on the thyroid-cartilage row). Palpable landmark for the cricothyroid approach.[1] |
| Hyoid bone | 1 | ABS | — | Part of the same single-piece ABS framework print (filament cost on the thyroid-cartilage row). Superior landmark for the thyrohyoid approach; support material was added between the hyoid, thyroid and cricoid to hold the silicone.[1] |
Build Instructions
Phase 1: Print the cartilage framework
- Download the open-source laryngeal cartilage model (University of Dundee / BodyParts3D) and the project's modified files from the Wikifactory repository.[1]
- Modify the model in Blender 2.79.2: add support material between the hyoid bone, thyroid cartilage and cricoid cartilage (away from the injection sites) and at the posterior aspect to hold the silicone in position.[1]
- Print the framework in ABS on a 3D printer. The authors used an industrial Stratasys Fortus 250mc and report that consumer-grade printers (e.g. Creality Ender 3, MakerBot Replicator) and other filaments (PLA, thermoplastic polyurethane) gave no substantial loss of quality.[1]
Verification: The printed framework reproduces the thyroid-cartilage, cricoid-cartilage and hyoid-bone landmarks held in their anatomical relationship.
Phase 2: Cast the silicone endolaryngeal insert
- Segment the laryngeal airway from a CT scan of the upper airway using 3D Slicer 4.10.1 — threshold the airway lining and crop to the larynx.[1]
- Import the airway model into Blender and sculpt it to fit the framework, then import it into Autodesk Fusion 360 and design a four-piece negative mold with silicone and ventilation ports, bolt holes and tabs.[1]
- Print the four-piece mold in ABS.[1]
- Assemble the mold with standard M3 nuts and bolts.[1]
- Mix Smooth-On Ecoflex 00-20 silicone per the manufacturer's instructions (including degassing) and add Silc-Pig pigment (PMS 7421C and 488C) for a pink hue.[1]
- Inject the silicone into the assembled mold with a 60-mL catheter-tip syringe and silicone tubing.[1]
- Cure overnight.[1]
- Disassemble the mold and remove the cured silicone.[1]
Verification: The cured silicone reproduces the endolaryngeal soft tissue, including the vocal folds.
Phase 3: Assemble
- Place the cured silicone into the cartilage framework; the posterior support holds it in position for injection.[1]
Verification: A 25-gauge needle can be passed percutaneously through the thyrohyoid and cricothyroid approaches into the silicone, and injecting air into the vocal fold confirms placement.[1]
Limitations
- The ABS framework cannot be pierced, so the transthyroid-cartilage approach is not supported. A thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) framework can be substituted to simulate that approach.[1]
- Expert reviewers judged that the silicone does not fully reproduce the haptics of human tissue, including the "pop" felt when crossing the cricothyroid membrane; the authors note this as an acceptable limitation.[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 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 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.
| Authors | Arturopelayo |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-4.0 |
| Cite as | Arturopelayo (2026). "TissueDB/Simulators/Injection Laryngoplasty Simulator (Lee)". Appropedia. Retrieved June 4, 2026. |