Student develops penis simulator that doctor can use for prosthetic surgery training
By Bryan Ke
A student in the U.K. has developed a penis simulator that doctors can use to train for surgeries that involve penile implants.
Key details: With realistic anatomical structures, the urogenital simulator provides a “lifelike training environment” and serves as an ethical alternative to cadavers for inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) surgery training, according to a news release. It was developed by Zixi Wang, an undergraduate physics honors student from King’s College London who will also pursue his Ph.D. later this year.
How it was made: Based on pre-operative scans obtained from a patient, the simulator was constructed using 3D printing and silicone molding. With low production costs, it is expected to be accessible for widespread use.
Collaborators: The simulator was a collaborative effort between Wang and several professors, including Kawal Rhode and Antonia Pontiki from the School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences. The student also worked with urologists from Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and leading manufacturers such as Boston Scientific.
Trial results: The simulator was successfully trialed at King’s College Hospital, as per the news release. It reportedly yielded “promising results.”
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