Method of manufacturing a synthetic skin and tissue model

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10150265-B1
Application number	US-201615336986-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Oct 28, 2016
Priority date	Jul 31, 2014
Publication date	Dec 11, 2018
Grant date	Dec 11, 2018

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a synthetic tissue model using one or more semi-flexible polymers or resin with at least one embedded mesh material is provided herein. The model provides suitable simulation of animal tissue designed to mimic tissue stiffness through varying the polymerization to simulate tissue stiffness level. Multiple polymers or multiple layers of polymer possessing different polymerization levels can be used to simulate tissues with different layers, such as skin. A mesh incorporated in the model provides durability, and can simulate layers of tissue through selection of the mesh material. A skin model using silicone-like material with a nylon tulle mesh was used to simulate skin for surgical procedures. The nylon tulle mesh increased resistance to tearing over time, due to insertion of surgical tools, thereby increasing usable life of the model and enhancing training as the model simulated skin for longer periods of time.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of manufacturing an animal tissue model, comprising:
providing at least one layer of mesh;
placing the at least one layer of mesh into a mold;
providing at least two layers of at least a first amount of at least a first polymer material selected from the group consisting of silicone, rubber, silicone-like material, or rubber-like material to form a synthetic skin;
adding a crosslinking agent or polymerization agent between the at least two layers of the at least a first polymer material;
placing the at least two layers of the at least a first one polymer material into the mold; and
permitting the at least two layers of the at least a first polymer material to polymerize in the mold, thereby embedding the at least one layer of mesh within the at least two layers of the at least a first one polymer material at a distance of between 1-2 mm below the surface of the at least a first polymer material to form a first tissue model;
wherein strands of the at least one layer of mesh extend beyond the at least two layers of the at least a first polymer material;
adding a resin to the strands of the mesh to adhere the strands to each other to form simulated ligaments; and
wherein the synthetic skin has stiffness of 185 N/m to 300 N/m.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the synthetic skin further comprises a synthetic epidermis layer and a synthetic dermis layer, wherein the synthetic dermis layer is positioned below the synthetic epidermis layer and where the synthetic dermis layer has a different stiffness than the synthetic epidermis layer.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing at least a second polymer material;
adding a second crosslinking agent or polymerization agent to the at least a second polymer material;
aligning the at least one layer of mesh adjacent to the at least a first polymer material and the at least a second polymer material;
applying a resin or liquid silicone binder to the at least a first polymer material, the at least a second polymer material, the at least one layer of mesh, or a combination thereof; and
binding the at least a first polymer material, the at least a second polymer material, and the at least one layer of mesh.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the at least a first polymer material and the at least a second polymer material and the resin or liquid silicone binder are applied in the mold, wherein the mold is adapted to mimic an anatomical feature of the animal.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing a second amount of the at least a first polymer material;
adding a second crosslinking agent or polymerization agent to the second amount of the at least a first polymer material to polymerize the second amount of the at least a first polymer material, wherein addition of the second crosslinking agent or polymerization agent results in the second amount of the at least a first polymer material having a different degree of polymerization from the first amount of the at least a first polymer material wherein polymerization of the second amount of the at least a first polymer material results in a second tissue model;
aligning the at least one layer of mesh adjacent to the first tissue model and the second tissue model;
applying a resin or liquid silicone binder to the first tissue model, the second tissue model, the at least one layer of mesh, or a combination thereof; and
binding the first tissue model, the second tissue model, and the at least one layer of mesh.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least polymer material is polyacrylate rubber, ethylene-acrylate rubber, polyester urethane, bromo-isobutylene isoprene, polybutadiene, chloro-isobutylene isoprene, chlorosulphonated polyethylene, polychloroprene, epichlorohydrin, ethylene propylene, ethylene propylene diene monomer, polyether urethane, perfluorocarbon rubber, fluoro-silicone, fluorocarbon rubber, hydrogenated nitrile butadiene, polyisoprene, acrylonitrile butadiene, polyurethane, styrene butadiene, styrene ethylene butylene styrene copolymer, polysiloxane, vinyl methyl silicone, acrylonitrile butadiene carboxy monomer, styrene butadiene carboxy monomer, thermoplastic polyether-ester, styrene butadiene block copolymer, or styrene butadiene carboxy block copolymer.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one layer of mesh is polyamide, polyvinylchloride, polyvinylidenechloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, metal, or plastic.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the metal is titanium, stainless steel or surgical steel.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the plastic is acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, high impact polystyrene, acrylic, cellulose acetate, cyclic olefin copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate, ethylene vinyl alcohol, polyvinylfluoride, polyvinylidene fluoride, polytetrafluoroethylene, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, fluorinated ethylene-propylene, perfluoroalkoxy polymer, polyethylenechlorotrifluoroethylene, polyethylenetetrafluoroethylene, perfluoropolyether, acrylic/PVC polymer, polyoxymethylene, polyamide-imide, polyaryletherketone, polybutadiene, polybutylene, polybutylene terephthalate, polycaprolactone, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polycyclohexylene dimethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyhydroxyalkanoate, polyketone, polyester, polyethylene, polyetheretherketone, polyetherimide, polyethersulfone, chlorinated polyethylene, polyimide, polylactic acid, polymethylpentene, polyphenylene oxide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyphthalamide, polypropylene, polystyrene, polysulfone, polytrimethylene terephthalate, polyurethane, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, styrene-acrylonitrile, or a combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the plastic is polyamide tulle netting mesh.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising placing simulated arteries and veins in the mold prior to placing the at least two layers of the at least a first polymer material into the mold.

Assignees

• Hart Stuart Richard
• Simoes Mario Alves
• Univ South Florida

Inventors

• Hart Stuart Richard
• Simoes Mario Alves

Classifications

• B29C70/688 Primary

  the inserts being meshes or lattices (B29C70/82, B29C70/683 take precedence) · CPC title

• G09B23/30 Primary

  Anatomical models {(G09B23/281 - G09B23/288 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B29L2031/40

  Test specimens {; Models, e.g. model cars (mannequins B29L2031/7028); Probes} · CPC title

• B29L2031/7532

  Artificial members, protheses · CPC title

• B29K2083/00

  Use of polymers having silicon, with or without sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, or carbon only, in the main chain, as moulding material · CPC title