Medical Simulation: Creating Your Own Silicone Suture Training Pad

Medical Simulation: Making Your Own Silicone Suture Training Pads Using Ecoflex 00-30 and Ecoflex Gel Platinum Silicone Rubber Contents:

• 0:16 – Materials Needed
• 0:26 – Creating the Working Surface
• 2:54 – Creating the Dermis Layer
• 4:50 – Creating the Fat Layer
• 6:38 – Creating the Muscle Layer
• 7:48 – Demolding the Suture Pad
• 8:53 – Using the Suture Pad

Creating the Working Surface (0:26)

An 8in (20cm) square plywood board is used as the working surface. Textured vinyl fabric will be used as a working surface, giving the final suture pad a skin-like texture. The board is placed on a corner of the vinyl and the perimeter is traced. The vinyl is cut along the marker line. Hot melt glue is applied to the board. The vinyl is pressed onto the glue. Powermesh will be used for reinforcement of the dermis (skin) layer. Two 11in (28cm) squares are cut from the Powermesh. Cut pieces of Powermesh are layered and centered over board and stretched tightly to create a smooth working surface. Binder clips are used to secure the Powermesh to the board.

Creating the Dermis Layer (2:54)

Ecoflex 00-30 is a super-soft platinum cure silicone rubber. Ecoflex 00-30 has a 1A:1B mix ratio. Silc-Pig silicone pigments are used to color the Ecoflex silicone rubber. Silc-Pig Fleshtone pigment is added to the Ecoflex 00-30 Part B and thoroughly pre-mixed. Ecoflex 00-30 Parts A and B are poured into a clean mixing container then thoroughly mixed for 2 minutes. Three layers of silicone from this batch will be used to saturate the Powermesh. Silicone is poured onto the center of the working surface. An aggressive stippling motion is used to saturate the Powermesh. Additional silicone is poured onto the working surface. Stippling motion on the Powermesh is repeated for this layer of silicone. Remaining Ecoflex 00-30 is poured onto the working surface. Use a fluid brushing motion to create a smooth surface. Allow silicone to partially cure for 45 minutes and become “tacky.”

Creating the Fat Layer (4:50)

Ecoflex GEL cures to a “tacky” super-soft silicone gel. Two separately mixed batches of this gel will be used to create the fat layer. Ecoflex GEL has a 1A:1B mix ratio. Silc-Pig Yellow pigment is added to Part B and thoroughly pre-mixed. Parts A and B are poured into a clean mixing container then mixed thoroughly for 2 minutes. Mixed Ecoflex GEL is poured onto the center of the dermis layer. The silicone will evenly flow over the dermis layer. Allow silicone to partially cure for 30 minutes to become tacky. A second batch of pigmented gel is mixed and applied to thicken the fat layer. Evenly spread silicone gel. The Ecoflex GEL is allowed to partially cure for 30 minutes to become tacky.

Creating the Muscle Layer (6:38)

Ecoflex 00-30 will be used to create the muscle layer. Silc-Pig Blood color pigment is added to Ecoflex 00-30 Part B and thoroughly pre-mixed. Ecoflex 00-30 Parts A and B are poured into a clean mixing container and are thoroughly mixed for 2 minutes. Mixed Ecoflex 00-30 is poured onto the center of the fat layer. A brush is used to evenly spread Ecoflex 00-30 over the fat layer. Ecoflex 00-30 muscle layer is allowed to cure for at least 4 hours at room temperature.

Demolding the Suture Pad (7:48)

Once the cured Ecoflex 00-30 silicone is not tacky, the binder clips are removed from the edges of the board. Suture pad is carefully separated from the vinyl surface. Powermesh fabric is completely encapsulated in the dermis layer. Edges of the suture pad are carefully trimmed away used scissors. Finished pad is now ready for suture training.

Using the Suture Pad (8:53)

Silicone pad clings to smooth surfaces. Dermis layer has realistic drag and similar strength to human skin. Fat layer self seals and is suitable for reuse. Reinforced dermis layer is extremely strong and holds sutures without tearing. Suture pad perfectly simulates human skin and offers hyper-realistic feel for training. Pad offers accurate retention of sutures. Making your own pad offers 90% cost savings vs commercially available pads. Pads you make are reusable and last longer vs commercially available pads. Sutures hold under tension. Sutures can be removed and pad is ready to be used again.