3 T Training Tool: IM Foosbun™

IM Foosbun™ is part of the 3 Ts Training Tools for demonstration, teaching and practice of rabbit intra muscular injection. The 3 Ts is a method used to provide training to individuals working with animals in research, testing and teaching settings. The 3 Ts incorporates simple, inexpensive, and effective hand-crafted tools to teach and encourage practice of non-surgical and surgical procedures, prior to conducting similar training and practice on live animals.

More information about Translational Training Tools™ here.

The basic version of IM Foosbun™ makes it easy for the trainee to understand the anatomy and the proper needle placement required to access the muscle and avoid the spine. Advance the training on a version of the tool in which the musculature and spine are covered by a thin layered balloon. This version has less visibility of the anatomical features, while allowing for easy palpation of the spine and muscles. Advance once again with a fur covered version of the tool. Learn to perform a clean injection into through the fur layer and into the lumbar muscles. Makes the trainer more capable to practice the procedure with live rabbits.

Ingredients for making the basic version of the IM Foosbun™:

• 1 – Medium to large sized spongy football (e.g. Nerf® football)
• 2 – Long balloons i.e. Qualatex 350Q Medium Sized Twisting Balloons
• 5 or 6 Rubber bands
• Several sewing pins (optional)
• 15 x 17 x 1 inch piece of sponge (will supply enough for several IM Foosbuns™ (instead
  of the sponge; home-made ‘gak” or slime may be used)
• 1 x jumbo size pipe cleaner
• 1 – 36 inch latex balloon (for intermediate version)
• 12 x 8 inch piece of fake fur (for the advanced version)
• 2 to 3 binder clips to hold the fur in place

• Supplies:
  1 pair of scissors to cut the sponge and the long balloons

Instructions for making the basic version of the IM Foosbun™:

1. Cut 350Q balloons to fit about ¾ of the length of the football
2. Cut a two pieces of foam – generally about 1.5 inches wide by 17 inches long
3. Stuff the 350Q balloon pieces with the foam to create the muscle (or if using Gak or Slime; place
   the material into the balloon and seal off the balloon
4. Bend the pipe cleaner so that there are multiple ‘ridges’ to represent the spinous processes
5. Lay the shaped pipe cleaner between the two foam stuffed balloons
6. Use the rubber bands to affix both the foam filled balloons and pipe cleaner to the football
7. Optional: secure the ends of the balloon to the football using the pins

Please see Instructions for making the intermediate version of the IM Foosbun™ & the advanced version of the IM Foosbun™ in The Joy of Training Cookbook, Volume 1, page 61-62.

For more information, please contact Dr. Wendy Williams.

3 Ts Training Tools consists of the following products: 

• FP Balloon™
  • IM Foosbun™ 
• Venipuncture Tools:
  • Tube Tail™ (venipuncture of the lateral tail vein)
  • Spongy Bunear™ (venipuncture of the rabbit marginal ear vein)
  • Ear Piggy Piggy™ (venipuncture of the marginal ear vein of pigs)
  • Cephalic Tube™ (venipuncture of the canine or feline cephalic vein)
• Cardiac Balloon™ (cardiac-puncture blood collection in rodents)
• CD Mouse™ (validation of competency of cervical dislocation euthanasia in rodents)
• Pink E. D. Cap™ (validation of competency of decapitation euthanasia of neonatal mice)

Please also see The Joy of Training Cookbook, Volume 2: (Recipies for crafting your own purpose-specific training tools for surgery practice). 

Please see Dexterity Tools™ and Exercises from Volume 2:

1. Macro Dexterity Tools™:

1. 1. Bead Board™
   2. Neuter Board™
   3. Tissue Board™
   4. Nail Board™
   5. Cutting Ring™