A Low-Cost 3D-Printed Cricothyrotomy Training Simulator

We describe a novel, low‐cost training device for cricothyrotomy procedures for medical students and residents. The device includes 3D‐printed laryngeal cartilages and cricothyroid membrane embedded in an ultrasound compatible ballistics gelatin. The device is life‐size with accurate textures and ultrasound properties, allowing students to practice incision placement in a low‐stakes environment. The difficulty of procedure practice can be adjusted by tinting the ballistics gelatin to provide a transparent or opaque soft‐tissue layer based on learner level. With the transparent trainer, the learner can easily see the landmarks for incision placement, and with the opaque trainer the learner can practice ultrasound‐guided and palpation‐guided incision placement. The training device has been tested with a small cohort of first‐ and second‐year medical students enrolled in a “Wilderness Medicine” elective course. They reported satisfaction with the device as a trainer, but outcome measures are not yet able to be assessed. Support or Funding Information None This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal .