Abstract:

This paper presents the development of four 3D printed trainers to support Simulation Based Learning Experiences (SBLEs) in the training of students in the College of Nursing (CoN) at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH). SBLEs are structured activities that represent actual or potential situations in education and practice. These activities allow nursing students to develop or enhance their knowledge, skills, and attitudes and to analyze and respond to realistic situations in a simulated environment. A 3D printed model (to scale) of the human body with organs and major arteries had previously been developed for training nursing students in human anatomy. However, it became obvious during implementing the model into the SBLEs that there was a need for students to remove some of the organs for training purposes. This was impossible because many of the organs were fused together during assembly. In addition, during model development it was not feasible to include many of the arteries because of space limitations and the closeness of the organs. As a result, students could not trace the routes of the arteries. To solve the problem four 3D printed trainers were developed. The arteries in the trainers were simulated with various diameters of silicone rubber o-ring cord. A variety of sleeves were designed using CAD (computer assisted design) and 3D printed with a PLA (polylactic acid) filament. The sleeves were fused to the organs and the o-ring cord inserted through the sleeves for maintaining the cord in the correct location. Trainer1 included 3D printed models of the heart, aortic arch, lung, ribcage, spine and clavicle. O-ring cord simulated the supplying of blood from the heart to the lungs and from the brachiocephalic and left subclavian trunks. Trainer2 included 3D printed models of the liver, stomach, spleen and gallbladder. O-ring cord simulated arteries supplying blood from the celiac trunk on the aorta to the organs. Trainer3 included 3D printed models of the pancreas, spleen and duodenum. O-ring cord simulated the supplying of blood from the celiac trunk and the superior mesenteric and inferior mesenteric arteries to the organs. Trainer4 included a 3D printed model of the intestines. O-ring cord simulated arteries supplying blood from the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries to the intestines. Each trainer was mounted on plywood and contained an average of twenty arteries and three-five meters of o-ring cord.

Tables were prepared for each trainer that included:
1) a schematic of the location of the arteries on the organs and arteries from the aorta to the organs,
2) the names of the arteries,
3) the mean diameter of the arteries from the literature and
4) the actual diameters of the o-ring cord simulating the arteries.

The tables are used by students in learning artery names and in tracing the arteries from the aorta to the organs. The trainers are currently being added to the appropriate SBLEs in the College of Nursing at UAH for training anatomy and physiology. Feedback on the trainers has been very positive. Included in this paper are descriptions of the trainers and the assembly of the arteries on the trainers, the tables of the arteries, the integration of the trainers into SBLEs, 3D printing issues and conclusions.

Keywords:

3D printed models, organs, SBLEs, nursing, simulation.