The LAP Mentor simulator from Simbionix is a comprehensive training platform for the field of laparoscopic surgery. Designed with flexibility in mind, the LAP Mentor boasts multiple disciplines and difficulties providing across-the-board training and practice for new and experienced surgeons alike.

Now in its state-of-the-art second generation, the Lap Mentor simulator is built to be sturdy, resilient and reliable, but also portable so that it can switch between locations in hospitals, clinical skills centres, meetings and lecture theatres with ease.

Impressive haptic feedback on the LAP Mentor utilises the latest technology to provide tactile responsivity meaning it doesn’t just look real, it feels real too.

The laparoscopic basic skills module provides surgeons with the key skills required for laparoscopic surgery - namely instrument navigation, camera manipulation, operative agility and hand-eye co-ordination. Variable levels of difficulty and the opportunity for individual or team practice make this ideal as part of an educational programme, and for building confidence.

View the features:

• Laparoscopic Basic Skills

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camera manipulation

    clip applying

        cutting

hand-eye coordination

2 hand manoeuvres

object translocation

The essential tasks module provides hands-on training in 3 key laparoscopic tasks - similar to the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) programme  developed by SAGES. The tasks included in this module are: peg transfer, pattern cutting, and placement of ligating loop. Designed for repeated independent practice, the module also enables the implementing of a training curriculum for more formal training.

View the tasks:

• Essential Tasks

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    peg transfer

   pattern cutting

ligating loop placement

• Suturing

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The Lap Mentor’s suturing module comes in two parts. A tutorial mode with optional instructional videos and pre-designated practice tasks, and a free-hand mode for an experience close to real-life suturing - including realistic and tactile tissue behaviour. The module is designed to train intracorporeal suturing and knotting techniques for all fields of laparoscopic surgery and allows training of continuous or interrupted suture, plus square knot (‘over-wrap’ or ‘under-wrap’), ligature, and surgeon’s knot  techniques either left or right handed. Lap Mentor’s suturing module also allows training of needle insertion and suturing in difficult  structure line angles.

+ Lap Mentor comes with suturing handles to be used with this module.

View some suturing features:

     knot tying

realistic simulation

       of thread

anastomosis skills

instructions & feedback

• Lap Chole

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exposure of cystic duct and artery

VIDEO

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VIDEO

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separation of gall bladder from liver pad

cutting and clipping

There are two Lap Chole modules on the Lap Mentor simulator. As well as the Complete Procedure model allowing free-hand practice, there is the Procedural Tasks module for more focused learning.

Lap Chole Procedural Tasks Module

A step-by-step tutorial of the Lap Chole procedure incorporating a series of tasks each focusing on different critical stages of the procedure - achieving the critical view of the cystic duct and artery, safe clipping, and cutting and dissection of the gallbladder from the liver bed. Instructions focus on safe procedure, and this module helps surgeons identify the visual cues associated with traction / counter-traction of tissue as well as those areas which require extra practice.

Lap Chole Complete Procedure Module

As with all of Lap Mentor’s complete procedure modules, the Lap Chole procedure simulation resembles a true-to-life experience made all the more real by the addition of haptic feedback providing a realistic feel. The module provides patient cases of a range of anatomical variations to the cystic duct and position of arteries - which may often not be experienced during a training period.

• Incisional Hernia

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COMPLETE

PROCEDURE

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COMPLETE

PROCEDURE

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The laparoscopic incisional hernia repair / ventral hernia module is the first virtual reality simulation of its kind finally eliminating the need to practice on animals or patients. The module trains surgeons in the procedures involved in hernia repair via a wide variety of real-life scenarios. Procedures focused on include adhesiolysis and handling and fixating intraperitoneal prosthetic mesh in a choice of shapes and sizes.

As a comprehensive training tool, a variety of hernia pathologies including umbilical, periumbilical, and epigastrium hernia are featured. The module also provides a complete virtual surgical environment of external manoeuvres for surgeons to learn and assess the principles of port placement and insertion and operation of the suture passer. As with all Simbionix simulators, all tools are genuine surgical instruments and come included.

During a training session, a vast array of parameters are recorded to be presented in an assessment file. Procedure information such as choice of mesh handling, safe dissection, and complication management are measured and used to assess skill levels and provide relevant feedback.

View some incisional hernia features:

adhesiolysis using

    realistic tools

 simulation of the surgical environment

 fixating the mesh

handling the mesh using suture passer

complete procedure demo

VIDEO

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• Bariatric - Gastric Bypass

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COMPLETE

PROCEDURE

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The Lap Mentor’s bariatric gastric bypass complete procedure module provides a comprehensive training tool for laparoscopic surgeons wishing to learn and master the specific tasks of this procedure. Tasks include creation of the gastric pouch, measurement and division of the jejunum, gastrojejunal anastomosis, and enteroenterostomy anastomosis. The module includes complete simulation of internal organs and bodily fluids, manipulation of tools, and tool-organ interaction and allows realistic practice of the technical aspects of Roux-en Y creation and jejunojejunostomy. Instrument familiarity is taught through tool-specific procedures, whilst instructional movies complete the educational package allowing for individual trainee learning as well as group teaching.

Skill acquisition can also recorded and measured for feedback and assessment purposes.

View some laparoscopic gastric bypass features:

measuring the

    jejunum

enteroenterostomy

    anastomosis

VIDEO

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VIDEO

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creating the gastric pouch

gastrojejunal anastomosis

• Colorectal - Sigmoidectomy

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COMPLETE

PROCEDURE

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The colorectal sigmoidectomy module is another complete procedure enabling full free-hand surgical practice outside of the operating room. The module works by simulating a complete individual patient case allowing laparoscopic surgeons and trainees to master the anatomy, to rehearse the procedure step-by-step, and to practice real-time decision-making. The module teaches trainees to incise the peritoneum, identify the ureter, dissect in correct tissue planes, expose and divide vessels, perform distal division and anastomosis, all using best-practice techniques to avoid complications.

Additional educational features include a unique 3D anatomical atlas, step-by-step instructions, on-demand demonstrative videos of the real procedure, and comprehensive feedback on performance.

View some colorectal sigmoidectomy features:

distal division

 procedural screen   and anatomical map

VIDEO

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VIDEO

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left rectal dissection

peritoneal incision

COMPLETE

PROCEDURE

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• Laparoscopic gynaecology

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The new laparoscopic gynaecology module on Lap Mentor provides the opportunity for realistic practice of fundamental gynaecological procedures including: laparoscopic tube sterilization, salpingostomy, salpingectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy with different approaches and techniques to treatment of cases such as ectopic pregnancy.

Uniquely, the module features genuine anatomies created from CT/MRI images of real patients. Each case demonstrates anatomical and pathological variations, and comes complete with patient history for a true-to-life experience. A complete range of laparoscopic instruments are available to be used as required, including uterine manipulator, endobag, vasopressin injection needle, and sterilization clip applicator.

The inclusion of surgical complications allows for practice in safely coping with complications such as bleeding, a ruptured fallopian tube, or a blood-filled abdominal cavity.

As with the Lap Mentor’s other modules, a 3D anatomical map, step-by-step tutorials, videos of actual procedures and comprehensive feedback and assessment in parameters such as time, efficiency and safety complete the educational package for individual, group or tutored learning.

View some laparoscopic gynaecology features:

VIDEO

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VIDEO

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VIDEO

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clearing the hemoperitoneum

controlling complications

3D anatomical map

 ectopic pregnancy

       endobag

lysis of adhesions

     prophylactic

     oophorectomy

tubal sterilization

+ also see HystSim from Simbionix - the world’s first hysteroscopy simulator

• Urology - Nephrectomy

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The Lap Mentor’s new nephrectomy module brings urology to the platform. The complete procedural simulation is an opportunity to safely learn and practice the challenges of the laparoscopic procedure, including: colon mobilisation, exposure and dissection of the renal hilum, and mobilisation of the upper pole. The module’s cases include various left / right anatomical variations and give trainees the choice of sparing or removing the adrenal. Procedural instructions, real-life videos, trocar placements and performance reports complete the training package.

COMPLETE

PROCEDURE

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+ also see URO Mentor from Simbionix - a comprehensive urology simulator

NEW MODULE

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LAP Mentor®

Laparoscopic Surgical Training Simulator

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      It is very exciting to have a way of training how to perform and master this critical procedure (endoscopy). I am sure we will use it to train our surgeons.

Prof. Watanabe

Head of Japanese Society of Endoscopic Surgery (JSES)

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      The laparoscopic colorectal  module will transform the way we teach laparoscopic colorectal surgery. I see this as an important part of training, where trainees learn the basic steps on a simple trainer, and then practice their first 20 cases on the Simbionix simulator (Lap Mentor). That way, by the time they need to perform in a clinical situation, they are already experienced

with the procedure

Conor P. Delaney

Professor of Surgery, Chief, Division of Colorectal Surgery,Case Western Reserve University, USA

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Comprehensive Range of Instruments

The LAP Mentor includes 12 fully simulated laparoscopic instruments:

right angle dissector

curved dissector

retraction

duck bill

clip applier

curved scissors

curved mini scissors

hook scissors

straight scissors

hook electrode

spatula electrode

suction - irrigation

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      The  results of this study enable the definition of a competency-based training curriculum for laparoscopic surgery. All tasks have been proven to be construct valid, and learning curve analysis proves that novice surgeons improve their performance with repeated practice on the simulator.

Darzi et al,

MMVR annual meeting, 2007

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      Training on the LAP Mentor procedural simulation is superior to training on basic VR simulators and has been shown to improve performance in

the operating room.

Reznick et al,

Surgical education annual meeting, 2009

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A TOOL FOR LEARNING

Build Your Own Training Curriculum

The LAP Mentor’s library of modules allows instructors to create a designated curriculum of tasks for trainees. Which tasks to focus on can be chosen, as can which order to complete them in, as well as individual levels of difficulty for different skill levels. There are both user and instructor logins, and the ability for trainees and instructors to view and export performance reports allows for personal training, research, and informal assessment. In the future, performance could be linked to more formal certification.

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COST-EFFECTIVE

Multi-disciplinary platform

The multi-disciplinary nature of LAP Mentor, which includes modules on bariatric, colorectal, gyaecological and urological disciplines makes it an ideal and affordable choice for clinical skills centres and surgical skills centres when funding can be combined across departments.

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In praise of LAP Mentor...

Read more validations and publications on the Simbionix website

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NEW PLATFORM

LAP Mentor Express

The LAP Mentor Express is a new, portable “personal trainer” from Simbionix. Designed for use in clinics, smaller meetings and courses, or indeed anywhere; LAP Mentor Express comes complete with a wheel-based carrying bag and offers a cost-effective laparoscopy training solution. The LAP Mentor Express platform does not include haptic feedback, but has all the basic features of the full LAP Mentor and is completely compatible with all the LAP Mentor modules.

Get in touch for more information

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build your own training curriculum

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performance feedback

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complete set of instruments

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teaching aids

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excellent support

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multiple skill levels

wide range of modules

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haptic feedback