OBJECTIVE

The CIRS Model 072 Vascular Access Training Phantom Kit was designed to provide a realistic training medium for needle insertion. The phantom is made from a durable elastometric compound mimicking the tactile feel and puncture resistance of soft tissue. The material has been designed to provide some self sealing response after retraction of the needles allowing for extended use of the phantom (see ‘Phantom Lifetime’). This material has realistic acoustic properties allowing imaging of the simulated vessels under ultrasound. The phantom can be scanned and punctured from the top or bottom surface.

USE OF THE PHANTOM

The phantom vessels are pre-filled with simulated blood. The phantom is ready to use upon receipt. Over time, the user may notice a reduced amount of simulated blood within the phantom vessels even if the phantom has not been used. If this occurs, follow the instructions in the “To Refill and Adjust Pressure In Vessel” section of this user guide.
Apply coupling gel and scan as you would using standard patient procedure.
Using ultrasonic imaging guidance, vessels in the phantom may be accessed and punctured from the top or bottom surface, following normal procedures.
Use from the top surface allows for visual and haptic (through palpation) assessment of the location of the vessels at a superficial to medium depth.
For more challenging training, using the bottom surface allows puncture only under ultrasound guidance simulating deeper vessels.
Surface of phantom can be reconditioned by sprinkling the surface conditioner provided with the phantom.

PHANTOM LIFETIME

The Model 72 is designed to be stiff enough to provide realistic needle resistance but soft enough to slowly seal up over needle tracks after a needle is removed. However, needle tracks may still be visible after the needle is removed; the brightness will depend on the size of the needle and the biopsy technique employed. (For example, do not change needle direction while the needle is in the phantom. Remove and re-insert to change direction).
The number of needle sticks that the phantom can withstand will vary from user to user, based primarily on an aesthetic decision of what constitutes an unusable phantom. If the only criteria is whether the veins are still visible under ultrasound, the number of needle sticks may exceed 100, assuming that the punctures are evenly distributed throughout the phantom (multiple punctures in the same location may create “leaks”). However, the outer Z-skin fat layer may start to look worn and there will be visible track marks within the gel sooner than that.

TO REFILL AND ADJUST PRESSURE IN VESSEL

1.Use simulated blood in syringe with small needle (preferably 22 gauge).
2.Access end of vessel from side of the phantom
3.Depress syringe plunger to fill vessel and build up pressure.
4. Over-filling increases size and pressure of the vessel which can promote leakage of the simulated blood.
5. Air in the vessel can be purged by tapping or kneading the phantom – displace air towards the needle for aspiration.

CARE AND HANDLING

Phantom can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Avoid solvent based or abrasive cleaning agents.