{"id":141727,"key":"TissueDB/Materials/Ink_or_Dye","title":"TissueDB/Materials/Ink or Dye","latest":{"id":1275607,"timestamp":"2026-09-21T00:19:09Z"},"content_model":"wikitext","license":{"url":"https://www.appropedia.org/Appropedia:Copyrights","title":"CC-BY-SA-4.0"},"source":"{{TissueDB Material Layout\n| lead_paragraph = '''Ink or dye''' is a colourant — liquid, gel, powder or paint — used in medical simulation to give a fluid or a model surface a realistic colour; in TissueDB builds, most often red to mimic blood. A dye is mixed into water or saline to make simulated blood, or added to a fluid circuit so that a leak becomes visible. A paint is brushed onto a model to colour anatomy, mark a landmark, or finish a surface. The many named colours, forms and brands are grouped as one material class because the colour is a detail of the same colourant, not a different material.\n| tissues_rows = <tr>\n<td>[[TissueDB/Tissues/Blood|Blood]]</td>\n<td></td>\n<td></td>\n<td>[[TissueDB/Simulators/Peripheral Intravenous Catheterization Trainer|Peripheral Intravenous Catheterization Trainer]], [[TissueDB/Simulators/Hemorrhage Control Simulator (Malik)|Hemorrhage Control Simulator (Malik)]], [[TissueDB/Simulators/Synthetic Tourniquet Training Model (Souza Lima)|Synthetic Tourniquet Training Model (Souza Lima)]], [[TissueDB/Simulators/Suction-Assisted Laryngoscopy and Airway Decontamination Simulator (Kumar)|Suction-Assisted Laryngoscopy and Airway Decontamination Simulator (Kumar)]], [[TissueDB/Simulators/Cricothyrotomy Simulator (Calvo)|Cricothyrotomy Simulator (Calvo)]], [[TissueDB/Simulators/Cricothyrotomy Simulator (Kei)|Cricothyrotomy Simulator (Kei)]], [[TissueDB/Simulators/Intra-abdominal Bleeding Simulator (Fernandes)|Intra-abdominal Bleeding Simulator (Fernandes)]], [[TissueDB/Simulators/Massive Hemoptysis Simulator (New)|Massive Hemoptysis Simulator (New)]], [[TissueDB/Simulators/Superficial Temporal Artery-Middle Cerebral Artery Bypass Trainer|Superficial Temporal Artery-Middle Cerebral Artery Bypass Trainer]]</td>\n<td>The Peripheral IV trainer lists optional red food colouring.<ref name=\"nln-caboodle-colourant\">Stephanie McKee. \"Caboodle Noodle 2.0.\" NLN SIRC HomeGrown Solutions, Solution 394. [https://www.nln.org/education/education/sirc/sirc/sirc-homegrown-solutions/sirc-hgs-everyday-issues/caboodle-noodle-2-f403cd5c-7836-6c70-9642-ff00005f0421 NLN source].</ref> Malik uses red food colouring with saline or other IV fluid.<ref name=\"malik2021-colourant\">Malik OAA, Chhapra R. An Inexpensive model to teach hemorrhage control in resource limited settings. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(3):916–918. DOI: [https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.3.3517 10.12669/pjms.37.3.3517]. PMID: [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34104189/ 34104189].</ref> Calvo and Kei use red-dyed saline.<ref>Calvo A, Ibañez Esteve C, Varela V, Gomez-Lopez L, Perdomo JM, Berge R, Gomar Sancho C. Design, application and evaluation of a cricothyrotomy model for a multidisciplinary simulation. An observational single centre study. ''Educación Médica'' 2021;22:305–310. DOI: [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edumed.2020.12.003 10.1016/j.edumed.2020.12.003].</ref><ref>Kei J, Mebust DP, Duggan LV. The REAL CRIC Trainer: Instructions for Building an Inexpensive, Realistic Cricothyrotomy Simulator with Skin and Tissue, Bleeding, and Flash of Air. ''Journal of Emergency Medicine'' 2019;56(4):426–430. DOI: [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jemermed.2018.12.023 10.1016/j.jemermed.2018.12.023]. PMID: [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30685221/ 30685221].</ref> Kumar uses red food colouring in water.<ref name=\"kumar2024-separation\">Kumar R, Kumar R. An Indigenous Suction-assisted Laryngoscopy and Airway Decontamination Simulation System. ''Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine'' 2024;28(7):702–705. DOI: [https://doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10071-24760 10.5005/jp-journals-10071-24760]. PMID: [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38994267/ 38994267]. PMC: [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11234124/ PMC11234124]. License: CC BY-NC 4.0.</ref> Souza Lima uses red school paint diluted with water.<ref name=\"souzalima2019\">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].</ref> New adds blue food colouring and corn starch to the red mixture.<ref>New ML, Amass T, Neumeier A, Jacobson NM, Huie TJ. Creation and validation of a massive hemoptysis simulator. ''Chest'' 2024;165(3):636–644. DOI: [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2023.10.014 10.1016/j.chest.2023.10.014]. PMID 37852436.</ref> Fernandes lists five units of food colouring.<ref>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].</ref> The STA–MCA trainer uses Rifocin-coloured water.<ref name=\"akdag2024-colourant\">Akdag BA, Akdag B, Ikizoglu E, Husemoglu B, Kizmazoglu C, Aydin HE, Ozer E. \"A Novel Training Model for Superficial Temporal Artery- Middle Cerebral Artery Anastomosis Using Microsurgical Techniques.\" ''World Neurosurgery''. 2024;190:e665–e674. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2024.07.200 DOI 10.1016/j.wneu.2024.07.200]. PMID [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39098505/ 39098505].</ref></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>(Structural — leak-indicator dye, not tissue simulant)</td>\n<td></td>\n<td></td>\n<td>[[TissueDB/Simulators/Grapefruit Distal Anterior Cerebral Artery Bypass Simulator|Grapefruit dACA Bypass Simulator]]</td>\n<td>Red food colouring makes leaks visible in the water circuit.<ref name=\"cikla_2020\">Cikla U, Rowley P, Jennings Simoes EL, Ozaydin B, Goodman SL, Avci E, Baskaya MK, Patel NJ. Grapefruit Training Model for Distal Anterior Cerebral Artery Side-to-Side Bypass. ''World Neurosurgery'' 2020;138:39–51. DOI [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2020.02.107 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.02.107]. PMID [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32109640 32109640].</ref></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>(Structural — surface finish on a paper-mache model, not tissue simulant)</td>\n<td></td>\n<td></td>\n<td>[[TissueDB/Simulators/Bronchoscopy Anatomical Trainer (Di Domenico)|Bronchoscopy Anatomical Trainer (Di Domenico)]]</td>\n<td>Water-based enamel finish for the paper-mache airway model.<ref name=\"didomenico2007\">Di Domenico S, Simonassi C, Chessa L. Inexpensive anatomical trainer for bronchoscopy. ''Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery'' 2007;6(4):567–569. DOI [https://doi.org/10.1510/icvts.2007.153601 10.1510/icvts.2007.153601]. PMID [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17669940 17669940].</ref></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>(Structural — landmark marking and vessel colour-coding, not tissue simulant)</td>\n<td></td>\n<td></td>\n<td>[[TissueDB/Simulators/Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair Simulator (Hanssen)|Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair Simulator (Hanssen)]]</td>\n<td>White paint identifies the Cooper’s-ligament landmark; blue and red paint distinguish the iliac-vessel stand-ins.<ref name=\"hanssen2022\">Hanssen A, Hanssen DA, Hanssen RA, Plotnikov S, Haddad J, Daes JE. Implementation and Validation of a Novel and Inexpensive Training Model for Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair. ''J Abdom Wall Surg'' 2022;1:10305. DOI [https://doi.org/10.3389/jaws.2022.10305 10.3389/jaws.2022.10305]. CC BY 4.0.</ref></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>(Structural — anatomical colouring of a 3D-printed model, not tissue simulant)</td>\n<td></td>\n<td></td>\n<td>[[TissueDB/Simulators/Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernioplasty TAPP 3D Simulator (Pires de Melo Filho)|Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernioplasty TAPP 3D Simulator (Pires de Melo Filho)]]</td>\n<td>Gouache ink in anatomy-book colours for the printed male pelvis.<ref name=\"piresdemelofilho2021\">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. [https://doi.org/10.1590/ACB360108 doi:10.1590/ACB360108]. CC BY 4.0.</ref></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Application role not specified in source</td>\n<td></td>\n<td></td>\n<td>[[TissueDB/Simulators/Abdominal Wall Defect Simulator (Medeiros)|Abdominal Wall Defect Simulator (Medeiros)]]</td>\n<td>Fake blood makeup; 20 mL is listed for the two-model build. The exact application site and amount per model are unspecified. Reviewers noted possible confusion with bowel damage; removal was suggested for a future version.<ref>Medeiros GA, Gualberto IJN, da Silva CHND, Diniz AMB, de Santana JBF, Volpe FP, Gadde R, Mazzo A, de Oliveira RC, Sbragia L. Development of a low-cost congenital abdominal wall defect simulator (wall-go) for undergraduate medical education: a validation study. ''BMC Medical Education''. 2023;23(1):966. Open access (CC BY 4.0). DOI: [https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04929-3 10.1186/s12909-023-04929-3]. PMID 38102605.</ref></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>(Structural — colouring cast plastisol sheets, not tissue simulant)</td>\n<td></td>\n<td></td>\n<td>[[TissueDB/Simulators/Emergency Department Thoracotomy Simulator (Misra)|Emergency Department Thoracotomy Simulator (Misra)]]</td>\n<td>Colourant for plastisol skin and fat sheets, listed as two 4 oz packs. The build yields ten pairs of sheets; no colourant mixing ratio is given.<ref>Misra A, Chapman A, Watson WD, Bach JA, Bonta MJ, Elliott JO, Dominguez EP (2024). \"Use of Low-Cost Task Trainer for Emergency Department Thoracotomy Training in General Surgery Residency Program.\" ''Journal of Surgical Education'' 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]. © 2023 Association of Program Directors in Surgery, published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</ref></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>(Structural — pigmenting cast silicone, not tissue simulant)</td>\n<td></td>\n<td></td>\n<td>[[TissueDB/Simulators/Injection Laryngoplasty Simulator (Lee)|Injection Laryngoplasty Simulator (Lee)]], [[TissueDB/Simulators/Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Simulator (Casas-Murillo)|Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Simulator (Casas-Murillo)]]</td>\n<td>Lee uses Silc-Pig PMS 7421C and 488C in Ecoflex 00-20 for a pink endolarynx.<ref>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: [https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.28952 10.1002/lary.28952]. PMID: [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32750164/ 32750164].</ref> Casas-Murillo uses colourant in P53 silicone for the gallbladder and bile ducts; the figure caption shows green dye, without a brand or colour code.<ref>Casas-Murillo C, Zuñiga-Ruiz A, Lopez-Barron RE, Sanchez-Uresti A, Gogeascoechea-Hernandez A, Muñoz-Maldonado GE, Salinas-Chapa M, Elizondo-Riojas G, Negreros-Osuna AA. 3D-printed anatomical models of the cystic duct and its variants, a low-cost solution for an in-house built simulator for laparoscopic surgery training. ''Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy'' 2021;43(4):537–544. DOI [https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-020-02631-3 10.1007/s00276-020-02631-3]. PMID [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33386458/ 33386458].</ref></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>(Structural — colouring the cast gelatin block, not tissue simulant)</td>\n<td></td>\n<td></td>\n<td>[[TissueDB/Simulators/Patent Ductus Arteriosus Ligation Simulator|Patent Ductus Arteriosus Ligation Simulator]]</td>\n<td>Powdered red pigment colours the gelatin model.<ref>[[Cardiac Surgical Skills Training Module]], SELF-Training team / Global Surgical Training Challenge, Appropedia, 2021. Build and operation: Phase 2 (Simulator Setup), Phase 3 (Skills Practice) and Phase 4 (Self-Assessment).</ref></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>(Structural — opacifying a gelatin phantom for blinded training, not tissue simulant)</td>\n<td></td>\n<td></td>\n<td>[[TissueDB/Simulators/Pediatric Forearm Fracture Simulator|Pediatric Forearm Fracture Simulator]]</td>\n<td>Food colouring makes the gelatin phantom opaque for blinded training; the unblinded version stays transparent.<ref>[https://www.appropedia.org/Pediatric_Distal_Forearm_Fractures/Pediatric_Forearm_Simulators Pediatric Distal Forearm Fractures/Pediatric Forearm Simulators], Appropedia.</ref></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>(Structural — colourant listed among assembly materials)</td>\n<td></td>\n<td></td>\n<td>[[TissueDB/Simulators/Pediatric Inguinal Hernia Repair Simulator (Heo)|Pediatric Inguinal Hernia Repair Simulator (Heo)]]</td>\n<td>The source lists Rit Dye in yellow, tangerine and cherry red among the purchased assembly materials; it does not assign these dyes to particular components or give a mixing amount.<ref>Heo K, Greaney E, Haehl J, Stunden C, Lindner A, Malik PRA, Rosenbaum DG, Muensterer O, Zakani S, Jacob J, Joharifard S. Iterative Design and Manufacturing of a 3D-Printed Pediatric Open and Laparoscopic Integrated Simulator for Hernia Repair (POLISHeR). ''Journal of Pediatric Surgery'' 2025;60:162232. DOI [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2025.162232 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2025.162232] PMID [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40011165 40011165]. CC BY-NC 4.0.</ref></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>[[TissueDB/Tissues/Vomit|Vomit]]</td>\n<td></td>\n<td></td>\n<td>[[TissueDB/Simulators/Suction-Assisted Laryngoscopy and Airway Decontamination Simulator (Kumar)|Suction-Assisted Laryngoscopy and Airway Decontamination Simulator (Kumar)]]</td>\n<td>Green food colouring in water represents vomit.<ref name=\"kumar2024-separation\" /></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Vessel-wall stain (methylene blue)</td>\n<td></td>\n<td></td>\n<td>[[TissueDB/Simulators/Superficial Temporal Artery-Middle Cerebral Artery Bypass Trainer|Superficial Temporal Artery-Middle Cerebral Artery Bypass Trainer]]</td>\n<td>Methylene blue highlights the vessel wall at the vessel ends.<ref name=\"akdag2024-colourant\" /></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>(Structural — colouring the bowel stand-in, not tissue simulant)</td>\n<td></td>\n<td></td>\n<td>[[TissueDB/Simulators/Trocar Placement Simulator|Trocar Placement Simulator]]</td>\n<td>Red lipstick colours the balloon used as the bowel stand-in.<ref>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]].</ref></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>(Structural — colouring gelatin tissue layers, not tissue simulant)</td>\n<td></td>\n<td></td>\n<td>[[TissueDB/Simulators/Z-Plasty Simulator|Z-Plasty Simulator]]</td>\n<td>Red food colouring for muscle, yellow for fat, and pink/white/yellow for skin; amounts vary with the desired skin tone. The connective-tissue paste contains no colouring.<ref>[https://www.appropedia.org/AmoSmile_Physical_Simulator AmoSmile Physical Simulator]. AmoSmile team, Appropedia.</ref></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>(Structural — drawing muscle-fibre striations on the batting muscle layers, not tissue simulant)</td>\n<td></td>\n<td></td>\n<td>[[TissueDB/Simulators/Open Appendectomy Simulator (Matthews)|Open Appendectomy Simulator (Matthews)]]</td>\n<td>Red marker distinguishes the perpendicular fibre directions of the two cotton-batting muscle layers. Reviewer feedback requested more colour and larger stripes.<ref name=\"matthews2022\">Matthews J, Bhatia MB, Thomas C, Okoth P, Martinez CR, Levy JS, Stefanidis D, Hunter-Squires JL, Saruni SI (2022). \"AMPATH surgical app: Low-cost simulator for the open appendectomy.\" ''Surgery'' 172(6):1656–1664. DOI: [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surg.2022.07.023 10.1016/j.surg.2022.07.023]. PMID: [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36123174/ 36123174]. © 2022 Elsevier Inc.</ref></td>\n</tr>\n| overview = Colourants used in these builds include food colouring, paints, pigments and stains. Products differ in formulation and intended use. The table records plastisol colourant, Silc-Pig silicone pigment, Rit fabric dye, methylene blue, Rifocin ampoules and lipstick as well as food colouring. Follow the relevant manufacturer's handling and disposal instructions.\n\nDocumented uses in TissueDB builds are: red food colouring stirred into water or saline to make simulated blood; food colouring in a water reservoir so that an anastomotic leak shows during a leak check; red school paint mixed with water as a pumped blood substitute; and gouache and water-based enamel brushed onto model surfaces to colour anatomy, mark a landmark or finish a model.\n\nSeveral sources state mixing ratios that differ by simulator. Kei uses 10 mL of red food colouring in 1 L of normal saline. New uses 20 mL of red plus a few drops of blue in 1 L. Kumar uses 10 g in two litres of water. The Pediatric Forearm phantom uses 40 drops of blue with 20 red and 20 yellow, or 80 drops of black. The Patent Ductus Arteriosus model uses 0.5 g of powdered pigment per model. Souza Lima mixes 250 mL of red school paint with water. Rows without a ratio do not supply one here.\n\nTalcum powder is not part of this class — it has its own page, [[TissueDB/Materials/Talcum Powder|Talcum Powder]].\n| references = <references />\n| synonyms_text = '''Folded pages (all redirect here):''' Black Ink, Food Colouring, Food Coloring, Red Dye, Green Dye, Red Food Coloring, Green Food Coloring.\n\n'''Common names:''' food colouring, food coloring, food dye, edible dye, edible colouring, colourant, red colorant, green colorant; India ink, Indian ink, Chinese ink, carbon ink, sumi ink; paint, school paint, gouache, gouache ink, water-based enamel.\n\n'''Forms:''' liquid, gel, paste, powder, paint and concentrated colourant.\n\n'''Regional names:''' colorante alimentario (ES), colorant alimentaire (FR), corante alimentar (PT), Lebensmittelfarbe (DE), 食用色素 (ZH), खाद्य रंग (HI), ملون غذائي (AR).\n| hero_image = TissueDB-Red-dye-hero.jpg\n| hero_image_caption = Four bottles of liquid food colouring — blue, red, green and yellow.\n}}\n\n{{Page data\n| keywords = ink, dye, food colouring, food coloring, black ink, red dye, green dye, red food coloring, green food coloring, colourant, simulated blood, leak indicator, TissueDB\n| description = Ink or dye — colourants used in TissueDB simulators to colour simulated blood, mark anatomy and make fluid leaks visible.\n}}\n\n[[Category:TissueDB]]"}