Collapsible Surgical Training Apparatus and Method for Laparoscopic Procedures

摘要

A laparoscopic surgery training kit and method is disclosed. The laparoscopic surgery training kit has improved portability and storability because it is collapsible and foldable. The laparoscopic surgery training kit is assembled by unfolding it into a taut condition and inserting a plurality of rods into a plurality of sleeves on a side panel arrangement to place the laparoscopic surgery training kit into its expanded condition. Holes or slits are provided, which are configured to allow insertion of surgical instruments, such as graspers, and/or configured to allow a camera to view the interior of the laparoscopic surgery training kit. In a preferred embodiment, the camera of a smartphone or tablet device is used, which is placed on the laparoscopic surgery training kit using a stand. The image viewed by the camera is shown to the trainee or examinee as a real-time display, preferably at eye-level. The trainee or examinee uses the one or more surgical instruments to manipulate one or more objects contained within the laparoscopic surgery training kit while viewing the real-time display.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising a laparoscopic surgery training kit that is alternatively configurable into a collapsible condition or an expanded condition and is alternatively configurable into a folded condition or a taut condition, wherein the laparoscopic surgery training kit comprises:
a base surface comprised of a flexible material and circumscribed by a first flexible loop, wherein the first flexible loop is configurable to possess a first resting state wherein the base surface is substantially planar and tautly held by the first flexible loop; a top surface comprised of a flexible material and circumscribed by a second flexible loop, wherein the second flexible loop is configurable to possess a second resting state wherein the top surface is substantially planar and tautly held by the second flexible loop, and wherein the top surface further comprises a first hole configured for accepting an elongated member and a second hole configured to allow viewing there-through by a camera; a side panel arrangement comprised of one or more flexible materials and coupled between the base surface and the top surface, wherein the elongated side panel comprises a plurality of sleeves, each configured to accept a rod; a plurality of rods; wherein insertion of the plurality of rods respectively into the plurality of sleeves creates the expanded condition of the laparoscopic surgery training kit; wherein removal of the plurality of rods from the plurality of sleeves creates the collapsible condition of the laparoscopic surgery training kit; wherein twisting of the first and second flexible loops creates the folded condition of the laparoscopic surgery training kit; and wherein unfolding of the base surface and the top surface creates the taut condition of the laparoscopic surgery training kit whereby the first and second flexible loops resiliently return to the first and second resting states respectively.