{"id":141722,"key":"TissueDB/Materials/Foam,_soft","title":"TissueDB/Materials/Foam, soft","latest":{"id":1260804,"timestamp":"2026-08-15T21:57:44Z"},"content_model":"wikitext","license":{"url":"https://www.appropedia.org/Appropedia:Copyrights","title":"CC-BY-SA-4.0"},"source":"{{TissueDB Material Layout\n| lead_paragraph = '''Soft foam''' is lightweight, compressible foam — the kind found in mattresses, upholstery and packing padding, sponges, and craft-foam sheets — used in surgical simulation as a cheap stand-in for soft, compressible tissue layers (skin, subcutaneous fat, connective tissue, muscle) and, cut to shape, for organ bulk. '''PU foam''' is the polyurethane form of it. A sheet that blends ethylene-vinyl acetate with polyurethane is sold as '''Foam (EVA-PU blend)''' and cut into pads of differing density for layered tissue practice. '''Yellow foam''' is the dyed form used for the liver edge and other organ surfaces in laparoscopic trainers. It spans '''open-cell''' foams (foam sponge, polyurethane upholstery and packing foam), which are porous so castable materials soak in and bond to them,[Kumaresan R, Pendayala S, Srinivasan B, Kondreddy K. A simplified suturing model for preclinical training. ''Indian J Dent Res'' 2014;25(4):541–543. DOI [https://doi.org/10.4103/0970-9290.142577 10.4103/0970-9290.142577]. PMID [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25307925/ 25307925].] and '''closed-cell''' foams (EVA craft-foam sheets, sold as \"foam fabric\"), which are smoother and cut cleanly into layers. \"Firmness\" is described by ILD (indentation load deflection) or plainly soft-to-extra-firm — an extra-firm mattress foam resists a scalpel more than a soft sponge, but all of it still deforms under the finger, so a foam mattress is soft foam, not rigid. Most soft foam is '''bought ready-made''' — sold as mattress and upholstery offcuts, kitchen and craft sponges, EVA craft-foam sheets (\"foam fabric\"), headliner foam, packing-foam blocks and EVA pool noodles — and some is '''cast''' from a two-part pour. Rigid polystyrene / packing \"Styrofoam\" is a different, non-deforming material and is not soft foam.\n| tissues_rows = \n| [[TissueDB/Tissues/Connective Tissue|Connective tissue]] (deep soft-tissue / chest-wall layer) | \n | \n | \n[[TissueDB/Simulators/Suturing Simulator (Kumaresan)|Suturing Simulator (Kumaresan)]], [[TissueDB/Simulators/Chest Tube Insertion Simulator (Man-O-War)|Chest Tube (Man-O-War)]], [[TissueDB/Simulators/Multipurpose Thoracic Simulator (Carter)|Multipurpose Thoracic (Carter)]] | \nAs a '''synthetic foam sponge (4–5 mm)''', the deeper connective-tissue layer of a suturing pad — its open structure lets the impression material soak in and bond the layers (Suturing, Kumaresan). | \n
\n\n| [[TissueDB/Tissues/Connective Tissue|Connective tissue]] (subcutaneous fat, limb) | \n | \n | \n[[TissueDB/Simulators/Synthetic Tourniquet Training Model (Souza Lima)|Synthetic Tourniquet (Souza Lima)]] | \nAs '''50 cm of upholstery foam''' filling a commercial mannequin leg — one undifferentiated fill that stands in for both the subcutaneous fat and the musculature, under an EVA-sheet skin; the source does not differentiate the two layers or give a foam density (Synthetic Tourniquet, Souza Lima).[Souza Lima D, Almeida YADS, Cid DMC, Cardoso LC, Braga CS, Regis FGL. Low-cost synthetic tourniquet training model. ''Rev Col Bras Cir'' 2019;46(6):e20192324. DOI [https://doi.org/10.1590/0100-6991e-20192324 10.1590/0100-6991e-20192324]. PMID [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31967244/ 31967244].] | \n
\n\n| [[TissueDB/Tissues/Skin|Skin]] (epidermis + dermis) | \n | \n | \n[[TissueDB/Simulators/Z-Plasty Simulator|Z-Plasty Simulator]], [[TissueDB/Simulators/Lumbar Laminectomy and Dural Closure Simulator (Bakhshi)|Lumbar Laminectomy (Bakhshi)]], [[TissueDB/Simulators/Synthetic Tourniquet Training Model (Souza Lima)|Synthetic Tourniquet (Souza Lima)]], [[TissueDB/Simulators/Chest Tube Insertion Simulator (Man-O-War)|Chest Tube (Man-O-War)]] | \nAs two glued '''craft-foam (EVA) \"foam-fabric\" sheets (12 × 12 cm)''' in contrasting colours for the dermis and epidermis, with elasticity like the web between thumb and index finger (Z-Plasty). As a '''book-fold foam block covered in rexine''' (a [[TissueDB/Materials/Coated Fabric|coated fabric]]) whose slit upper half is the incision site (Lumbar Laminectomy, Bakhshi). As a '''single 60 × 40 cm EVA sheet''' coating the exterior of a mannequin leg as the skin layer (Synthetic Tourniquet, Souza Lima). | \n
\n\n| [[TissueDB/Tissues/Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue|Skin and subcutaneous tissue]] | \n | \n | \n[[TissueDB/Simulators/Intra-abdominal Bleeding Simulator (Fernandes)|Intra-abdominal Bleeding (Fernandes)]], [[TissueDB/Simulators/Percutaneous Renal Access Simulator (Ewald)|Percutaneous Renal Access (Ewald)]] | \nAs a '''thin sponge layer bonded to an EVA plate''' — one laminated 72 × 54 cm piece forming the anterior skin-and-subcutaneous wall (Intra-abdominal Bleeding, Fernandes).[Fernandes CO, Rodrigues LR, Silva do Amaral MLBS, de Morais Rodrigues SJ, Marton-Filho MA. Low-cost simulator for intra-abdominal bleeding. ''Rev Col Bras Cir'' 2023;50:e20233512. DOI [https://doi.org/10.1590/0100-6991e-20233512-en 10.1590/0100-6991e-20233512-en]. PMID [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37971114/ 37971114]. PMC [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10618030/ PMC10618030].] As '''Premium Poly Foam''' (American Excelsior Company, Arlington TX) encasing the gelatin kidney block to mimic the overlying skin, fat and muscle (Percutaneous Renal Access, Ewald).[Ewald JM, Cheng JW, Engelhart SM, Wilkinson MC, Hajiha M, Wagner H, Baldwin DD. A realistic, durable, and low-cost training model for percutaneous renal access using ballistic gelatin. ''Turk J Urol'' 2019;45(1):31–36. DOI [https://doi.org/10.5152/tud.2018.43569 10.5152/tud.2018.43569]. PMID [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30668307/ 30668307].] | \n
\n\n| [[TissueDB/Tissues/Fascia|Fascia]] | \n | \n | \n[[TissueDB/Simulators/Z-Plasty Simulator|Z-Plasty Simulator]] | \nAn '''additional glued foam-fabric layer (12 × 12 cm)''' representing the fascial plane beneath the skin sheets (Z-Plasty).[[https://www.appropedia.org/AmoSmile_Physical_Simulator AmoSmile Physical Simulator]. AmoSmile team, Appropedia.] | \n
\n\n| [[TissueDB/Tissues/Muscle|Muscle]] | \n | \n | \n[[TissueDB/Simulators/Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair Simulator (Kurashima)|Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia (Kurashima)]], [[TissueDB/Simulators/Synthetic Tourniquet Training Model (Souza Lima)|Synthetic Tourniquet (Souza Lima)]] | \n'''Sponge''' layers in a five-layer abdominal-wall insert, each wrapped in white stretchy fabric to form the fascia; the source states five layers but does not say how many are muscle (Kurashima).[Kurashima Y, Feldman LS, Al-Sabah S, Kaneva PA, Fried GM, Vassiliou MC. A tool for training and evaluation of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. ''Surg Innov'' 2011;18(2):171–175. DOI [https://doi.org/10.1177/1553350610395949 10.1177/1553350610395949]. PMID [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21307013/ 21307013].] As '''50 cm of upholstery foam''' filling a mannequin leg as the musculature — the same undifferentiated fill as the subcutaneous-fat row above (Synthetic Tourniquet, Souza Lima). | \n
\n\n| [[TissueDB/Tissues/Adipose Tissue|Adipose tissue]] (subcutaneous) | \n | \n | \n[[TissueDB/Simulators/Trocar Placement Simulator|Trocar Placement Simulator]], [[TissueDB/Simulators/Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair Simulator (Kurashima)|Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia (Kurashima)]] | \nAs a '''~15 × 15 cm sponge square''' (holes cut for pen-holder \"ports\") layered between the felt skin and the taped-felt fascia (Trocar Placement Simulator). As '''sponge''' for the subcutaneous adipose layer, thickness not stated in the source (Kurashima).[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: [[Media:ALL-SAFE Trocar Placement Simulation Build Instructions.pdf|PDF]].] | \n
\n\n| [[TissueDB/Tissues/Cartilage|Cartilage]] (tracheal rings) | \n | \n | \n[[TissueDB/Simulators/Cricothyrotomy Simulator (White UW)|Cricothyrotomy Simulator (White UW)]], [[TissueDB/Simulators/Cricothyrotomy Simulator (D'Auria)|Cricothyrotomy Simulator (D'Auria)]] | \n'''Compliant foam strips''' as the tracheal-ring cartilage; the source does not specify the foam grade, ring count, density, thickness or spacing (Cricothyrotomy, White UW). The D'Auria trainer is built on the same University of Washington substrate and uses the same compliant foam strips, which carry the conductive-foil contact sensors (Cricothyrotomy, D'Auria).[D'Auria D, Persia F. \"Automatic evaluation of medical doctors' performances while using a cricothyrotomy simulator.\" ''2014 IEEE 15th International Conference on Information Reuse and Integration (IRI 2014)'', 13–15 August 2014, pp. 514–519. DOI [https://doi.org/10.1109/IRI.2014.7051932 10.1109/IRI.2014.7051932].] | \n
\n\n| [[TissueDB/Tissues/Lung|Lung]] | \n | \n | \n[[TissueDB/Simulators/Emergency Department Thoracotomy Simulator (Misra)|Emergency Department Thoracotomy (Misra)]] | \nA '''soft packing-foam block (16 × 10 × 4 in)''' handcrafted into a lung shape as the substrate, wrapped in a layer of pink-coloured gauze, then coated with liquid plastisol (Bait Plastics LLC); about US$18 for the pair (Emergency Department Thoracotomy, Misra).[Misra A, Chapman A, Watson WD, Bach JA, Bonta MJ, Elliott JO, Dominguez EP. Use of low-cost task trainer for emergency department thoracotomy training in general surgery residency program. ''J Surg Educ'' 2024;81(1):134–144. DOI [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsurg.2023.09.009 10.1016/j.jsurg.2023.09.009]. PMID [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37926660/ 37926660].] | \n
\n\n| [[TissueDB/Tissues/Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue|Skin and subcutaneous tissue]] (wounded, debridement model) | \n | \n | \n[[TissueDB/Simulators/Soft Tissue Lesion Simulator|UGHE Low-Cost Soft-Tissue Simulation Module]] | \nAs a '''large sponge cut to represent wounded skin and tissue''' - the whole substrate of the wound-debridement model, with vinyl pieces set into the cuts as debris and red liquid latex painted on as blood (US$0.63 per model, Rwanda). A '''small thick sponge''' (US$0.50) is also the base of the abscess-drainage and nodule-excision models, where the source describes its role only as \"the tissue beneath the abscess\" and names no tissue for it. ''Documented limitation:'' air trapped in the sponge base introduces reverberation and shadowing artefacts that are not representative of live tissue, which the authors state potentially limits ultrasound realism and is a limitation of the model.[Wittenberg RE, Bryce-Alberti M, Shimelash NZ, Masimbi O, Kratky LE, Thompson AA, et al. Low-cost simulation models for soft-tissue procedures for medical student education in Rwanda. ''BMC Medical Education'' 2025;25(1):1271. DOI: [https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07910-4 10.1186/s12909-025-07910-4]. PMID [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41034833/ 41034833]. PMC [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12487576/ PMC12487576]. Licensed CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.] | \n
\n\n| (Structural — cushion layers, role not assigned in the source) | \n | \n | \n[[TissueDB/Simulators/Orthoplastic Reconstruction Simulator|Orthoplastic Reconstruction Simulator]] | \nTwo 45 × 10 cm sponge pieces, one laid on the wooden board beneath the pipe segments and one over the pipes and the fracture gap, glued at the edges if they lift. The build source describes only their size and placement and assigns them no tissue.[[[Orthoplastic reconstruction/Physical Simulator]] — the physical simulator of the Orthoplastic Reconstruction training module, part of the [[Global Surgical Training Challenge]], developed by the AmoSmile team; Appropedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.] | \n
\n| troubleshooting = The following limits were recorded for '''closed-cell EVA craft foam''' and are kept at that scope; open-cell foam sponge behaves differently and is used as a suturing-pad layer above.\n\n* '''Hemostasis training''' — EVA foam does not simulate vascular response or bleeding. Trainees cannot develop blood loss recognition skills.\n* '''Thermal injury training''' — EVA foam melts under heat; do not use for electrosurgical training. Fire hazard; unrealistic tissue response.\n* '''Suturing and knot-tying''' — EVA foam does not simulate tissue grip or needle resistance. Trainees develop incorrect suture tension calibration.\n* '''Deep dissection and layer-specific anatomy''' — Does not differentiate muscle, peritoneum, or viscera. No layer recognition training.\n| alternatives_rows = \n| [[TissueDB/Materials/Silicone, Castable|Silicone]] | \nSuturable, realistic texture | \nHigher cost; requires molding | \n
\n\n| [[TissueDB/Materials/Felt|Felt]] | \nFascial \"pop\" sensation | \nDifferent tactile properties | \n
\n\n| [[TissueDB/Materials/Gelatin|Gelatin]] | \nCutting fidelity, bleeding simulation | \nRequires refrigeration; limited shelf life | \n
\n| references = \n| overview = Soft foam is one of the cheapest, most widely available build materials. Ready-made forms — foam-mattress offcuts, upholstery and packing foam, kitchen and craft sponges, EVA craft-foam sheets (roughly 2–5 mm, commonly sold in 2, 3 and 5 mm and stackable for graduated resistance), and automotive headliner foam — are sold at hardware, upholstery, craft and general stores worldwide, typically a few US dollars per sheet or offcut (EVA sheets about US$0.50–1.50; a packing-foam pair about US$18 in one published build). Shelf life is effectively indefinite stored dry and out of sunlight, though foam compresses permanently under long load and yellows with age and UV. Two-part casting foams are also sold for pouring custom soft blocks.\n| synonyms_text = '''Forms folded into this class (all redirect here):''' EVA foam, EVA, ethylene vinyl acetate, EVA craft foam, foam fabric, polyurethane foam, PU foam, sponge, sponges, foam sponge, foam, foam (EVA-PU blend), yellow foam. '''Other forms / synonyms:''' foam mattress, upholstery foam, packing foam, headliner foam, pool noodle, soft foam, foam block, foam sheet, foam padding, Premium Poly Foam, neoprene foam, closed-cell neoprene, open-cell neoprene, wetsuit foam. '''Craft, trade and descriptive terms:''' craft foam, fun foam, Foamies, craft supplier foam, dollar store foam, closed-cell foam, foam pad, foam layer, foam strips, foam blocks, EVA sheet, EVA pad, EVA plastic foam, EVA foam roll, synthetic foam, synthetic skin, resistive foam, training foam, tissue substitute, white foam, coloured foam, assorted foam, white EVA sheet, compliant foam. '''International / regional terms:''' espuma (Spanish), goma EVA (Spanish/Latin America), mousse (French), mousse EVA (French), Moosgummi (German), Schaumstoff (German), schiuma EVA (Italian), espuma (Portuguese).\n| shelf_life_rows = \n| Ambient (15–25 °C) | \nDry (<60%) | \n— | \nIndefinite | \nNone | \n
\n| processing = '''Closed-cell EVA craft-foam sheets.''' Use 2 mm EVA foam sheets from craft suppliers. Verify closed-cell construction for consistent resistance. White or natural colour recommended.\n\nCut foam sheets to trainer dimensions using a sharp utility knife or scissors. For skin simulation, stack 2–3 sheets of 2 mm foam. For fascial simulation, stack 3 sheets of 2 mm foam (6 mm total). Layer sheets using spray adhesive or a stacking arrangement without adhesive.\n\nStore in a dry environment at room temperature. No refrigeration required. Protect from direct sunlight to prevent discolouration. Rotate sheets regularly to distribute wear. Clean with water and mild detergent after use; allow to air-dry completely.\n| safety = The following were recorded for '''closed-cell EVA craft foam''' and are kept at that scope.\n\n* '''Fire hazard''' — Do not use in electrosurgical training; EVA foam melts and releases toxic fumes at high temperatures. Use silicone sheets for cautery practice.\n* '''Marker transfer''' — Use permanent alcohol-based markers to prevent ink transfer to gloves or instruments.\n* '''Dust generation''' — When cutting, use safety glasses and work in a ventilated area.\n* '''Non-toxic''' — Closed-cell EVA foam is non-toxic and safe for medical simulation use.\n* '''Standard disposal''' — Discard worn foam per institutional policy.\n| related_materials =\n* [[TissueDB/Materials/Silicone, Castable|Silicone sheets]] — Higher fidelity; suturable surface but higher cost\n* [[TissueDB/Materials/Felt|Felt]] — Alternative fascial layer simulation with different tactile properties\n* [[TissueDB/Materials/Gelatin|Gelatin]] — Cutting practice with bleeding simulation capability\n| hero_image = Sponge-for-washing-1212612.jpg\n| hero_image_caption = An open-cell cleaning sponge, showing the interconnected pore structure that makes soft foam compressible and fluid-absorbing. Photograph by Robert Fotograf, CC0 1.0 (public domain dedication).\n| hero_image_license = CC0 1.0 (public domain dedication) — Robert Fotograf, via Wikimedia Commons (File:Sponge-for-washing-1212612.jpg). No attribution is required under CC0; the credit is given as good practice.\n}}\n\n{{Page data\n| keywords = soft foam, foam sponge, synthetic foam sponge, upholstery foam, polyurethane foam, PU foam, EVA foam, ethylene-vinyl acetate, craft foam, foam fabric, connective tissue, soft tissue, low cost, simulation, TissueDB\n| description = Soft foam (open-cell foam sponge, upholstery/packing foam, closed-cell EVA craft foam), a cheap, widely available material used as a low-cost soft-tissue / connective-tissue stand-in in surgical simulation.\n| hide = yes\n}}"}