TissueDB/Simulators/Suture Simulator (Almeida)
The Almeida suture simulator is a low-cost suture pad, built from locally available materials, for practising basic surgical suturing — the simple interrupted stitch — with pre-clinical medical students.[1] It gives learners a skin-like surface to incise and close, and is quick and inexpensive to make in quantity for repeated practice.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Features and Basic Operation | A single 6 cm circular pad takes a 4 cm incision and five simple interrupted stitches, and also supports other patterns such as continuous suturing. Learners cut the pad with a scalpel and close the edges; mononylon 4-0 gives the firmest edge apposition and resists tearing, while finer 5-0 and 6-0 threads can tear the edges under higher tension. Each pad takes about 9 minutes to make, so a class can produce many for repeated practice.[1] |
| Current Development Status | Built and validated by the authors: expert face validity plus demonstrated, retained skill gains in training; transfer to clinical practice has not been demonstrated.[1] |
| Estimated Build Time and Cost | $0.30 (estimated) |
| Specialized Tools and Equipment | Digital scale (to weigh the silicone and starch); a flat non-stick surface for mixing; a scalpel handle with a No. 15 blade to cut the practice incision.[1] |
| Version | Version 1 |
| Development Team Contact Information | Edson Yuzur Yasojima (corresponding author), yasojima@ufpa.br — Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, Brazil; study performed at the Laboratory of Experimental Surgery, Universidade do Estado do Pará (UEPA), Belém.[1] |
Tissues
| Tissue | Qty | Material | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skin | 1 pad per session | Acetic silicone + maize starch[1] | ~$0.30 (est.) | Single homogeneous layer; a suturable skin-like surface that does not reproduce the different layers of skin tissue[1] |
Build Instructions
Phase 1: Pad Fabrication
- Weigh 20 g of acetic silicone and 11 g of maize starch using a digital scale.
- Place both ingredients on a flat non-stick surface.
- Mix by hand until the silicone and starch form a homogeneous mass.
- Mold the mixture into a circular shape with a 6 cm diameter.
- Leave the pad in contact with ambient air for 48 hours to dry.
- Verify: The pad is firm, holds its circular shape, and can sustain a 4 cm longitudinal incision without crumbling.
Not Suitable For
- Multi-layer tissue identification training — the pad is a single homogeneous layer that does not reproduce the different layers of skin tissue[1]
- Knot security testing under high tension — pad edges tear with higher-intensity manual traction when using mononylon 6-0 and 5-0 sutures[1]
- Assessment of tissue layer depth perception — authors identify this as the primary limitation of the model[1]
References
| Authors | Arturopelayo |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-4.0 |
| Cite as | Arturopelayo (2026). "TissueDB/Simulators/Suture Simulator (Almeida)". Appropedia. Retrieved July 15, 2026. |