TissueDB/Simulators/Trocar Placement Simulator

ALL-SAFE Trocar Placement Simulation Build Instructions cover page showing the assembled trocar placement module — ALL-SAFE Trocar Placement Simulation Build Instructions. Source: ALL-SAFE Consortium.

The Trocar Placement Simulator is a low-cost laparoscopic trocar-placement training module built from locally available materials (cardboard, plastic wrap, felt, sponge and balloons) for practising trocar placement through a layered model of the abdominal wall. Developed by the ALL-SAFE Consortium, the module mounts on a laparoscopic box trainer; layered materials stand in for skin, adipose tissue, fascia, muscle and peritoneum, with a small balloon as the umbilicus and an inflated modeling balloon — coloured on both sides with red lipstick — as the bowel beneath the peritoneum. A cell phone mounted above the module with a rubber band provides the trainee's overhead camera view.

Field	Details
Features and Basic Operation	The module attaches to a laparoscopic box trainer. The trainee passes a trocar through five tensioned layers held on four pens — skin (white felt), adipose (sponge), fascia (taped felt), muscle (red felt) and peritoneum (plastic wrap) — with a small-balloon umbilicus and a lipstick-coloured modeling-balloon bowel beneath the peritoneum. A cell phone held above the module by a rubber band gives the overhead camera view.
Current Development Status	Pilot-tested — a third-party ALL-SAFE Consortium build, tested for build clarity and reproducibility across its sites. No further evaluation specific to this trocar module is reported.
Estimated Build Time and Cost	US$10 (estimated)
Specialized Tools and Equipment	Cell phone or smartphone — mounted above the module with a rubber band as the overhead camera (the simulator's only viewing device). Host trainer: Laparoscopic Box Trainer, onto which the module attaches. Box cutter and scissors are common build tools.
Version	Version 1
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, Mbingo Baptist Hospital

Tissues

Tissue	Qty	Material	Cost	Notes
Peritoneum	1	Plastic wrap	USD < 1^†	Innermost layer, impaled taut on the four corner pens.
Fascia	1	White felt + Packing tape	USD 1–3^{†, †}	White felt stiffened with packing or masking tape on both sides; impaled on the corner pens.
Muscle	2	Red felt	USD 1–2^†	Two strips, impaled and tensioned on the side pens.
Adipose tissue	1	Sponge	USD < 1^†	Impaled on the four pens, tensioned.
Skin	1	White felt	USD < 1^†	Top layer, untaped; a central hole passes the umbilicus balloon.
Umbilicus	1	Small balloon	USD < 1^†	Balloon neck only, oriented away from the skin centre.
Bowel	1	Modeling balloon	USD < 1^†	Inflated and taped beneath the peritoneum; coloured on both sides with red lipstick (finish).

Structural Parts

Part Name	Qty	Material	Cost	Notes
Trocar module frame	1	Cardboard	US$1 (est.)	Corrugated cardboard; corrugation oriented per the build steps; folds into a locking square with pen-holder tabs.
Layer holders	4	Pens	US$1 (est.)	Pushed through the folded tabs to hold the tissue layers in tension.
Phone mount	1	Rubber band	US$1 (est.)	Threaded through cardboard slits to hold the cell phone above the module.

Build Instructions

Phase 1: Preparing the Box

Step 1. Cut a piece of cardboard to 10.16 cm × 56 cm (4 × 22 in). Orient the cardboard corrugation as shown — this affects folding behavior.

Cardboard piece with corrugation orientation and initial slot cuts

Step 2. Follow the cutting template: cut two slots 2.54 cm (1 in) from each edge. Slot length should be half the 10.16 cm (4 in) dimension.

Cutting template showing slot positions and fold lines

Step 3. Mark fold points at the dashed lines in the template. Fold the cardboard at each indicated fold line.

Step 4. At each fold, use scissors to cut two 2.54 cm (1 in) cuts at the indicated positions.

Step 5. Use box cutters to cut any lines not placed over a fold line.

Step 6. Fold the cardboard into a square. Slide two opposing slots together to form a lock.

Fold progress showing square taking shape

Slots locked together forming rigid square

Step 7. Push each pen holder tab inward toward the middle of the box using a finger.

Step 8. Push a pen through each of the 4 pen holder tabs.

Phase 2: Preparing the Model

Step 1. Cut a square of plastic wrap (peritoneum) approximately 15.25 cm × 15.25 cm (6 × 6 in). Cut small holes in each corner so pens impale the plastic wrap through each hole, holding it tightly in place.

Plastic wrap with corner holes for pen holders

Step 2. Cut a square of white felt (fascia) to approximately 15.25 cm × 15.25 cm (6 × 6 in). Adhere packing tape or masking tape in strips to cover entirety of cloth on both sides. Cut holes in each corner and impale on pens as with the peritoneum layer.

White felt with tape strips applied to both sides

Fascia layer placed on pen holders above peritoneum

Step 3. Cut two rectangular pieces of red felt (muscle) to approximately 15.25 cm × 5 cm (6 × 2 in). Cut holes in each side for the felt to be impaled and held by protruding pens. Ensure holes are cut at correct locations so adequate tension is applied.

Step 4. Cut a square of sponge material (adipose tissue) to 15.25 cm × 15.25 cm (6 × 6 in). Cut 4 holes for pens to hold in place.

Sponge material cut to size with pen holes

Step 5. Cut another square of white felt (skin) to the same size. Cut an additional hole in the middle for the balloon (umbilicus) to stick through. The balloon has been cut to include just the neck, oriented away from center. Do not add tape to this layer.

Skin layer with umbilicus balloon inserted through center hole

Step 6. Inflate a modeling balloon to simulate the bowel. Tape the balloon to the bottom of the plastic wrap (peritoneum layer). Apply a small amount of red lipstick on both sides of the modeling balloon.

Modeling balloon taped to underside of peritoneum

Red lipstick applied to both sides of bowel balloon

Phase 3: Installing Model Inside Box

Step 1. Rotate the laparoscopic box trainer on its side and orient the trocar module as shown.

Trocar module oriented against laparoscopic box trainer

Step 2. Mark two lines that line up with the top window of the trainer box using a pen. Use scissors to make 7.6 cm (3 in) cuts at both marked locations.

Marking alignment lines on trocar module

Step 3. Fold the cardboard flap over and slide it over the trainer box window. The trocar module should be securely attached to the trainer box and lie flat on the table surface.

Cardboard flap folded over trainer box window

Trocar module securely attached to trainer box, flat on table

Step 4. Cut two slits into the cardboard to provide a way to securely attach a cell phone to the top of the box (camera pointed down at trocar module). Slits should be wide enough to hold a rubber band between them. Slit length only needs to be approximately 1.3 cm (½ in).

Step 5. Attach the cell phone to the top using the rubber band, with camera directly above the trocar module. Place the phone directly above the module for direct visualization. Weights (such as textbooks) can be added inside the trainer box for stabilization.

Cell phone attached above trocar module with rubber band mount

References

^[1]

↑ ALL-SAFE Consortium. ALL-SAFE Trocar Placement Simulation Build Instructions. Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons, University of Michigan, Southern Illinois University, Soddo Christian Hospital, AIC Kijabe Hospital, Mbingo Baptist Hospital. Available at: PDF.

Digital Resources

Simulator data
Alternative names	ALL-SAFE Trocar Placement Simulation; Trocar Placement Trainer

Page data
Keywords	trocar placement, laparoscopic access, abdominal wall, ALL-SAFE, low-cost simulator, surgical simulation
SDG
Authors	Arturopelayo
License	CC-BY-SA-4.0
Language	English (en)
Related	0 subpages, 11 pages link here
Redirects	TissueDB/Simulators/Trocar Placement Trainer
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Created	May 2, 2026 by Arturo Pelayo
Last edit	July 5, 2026 by Arturo Pelayo
Cite as	Arturopelayo (2026). "TissueDB/Simulators/Trocar Placement Simulator". Appropedia. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
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[1] ALL-SAFE Consortium. ALL-SAFE Trocar Placement Simulation Build Instructions. Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons, University of Michigan, Southern Illinois University, Soddo Christian Hospital, AIC Kijabe Hospital, Mbingo Baptist Hospital. Available at: PDF.

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