3 T Training Tool: Cardiac Balloon™

Cardiac Balloon™ is part of the 3 Ts Training Tools for demonstration, teaching and practice of cardiac-puncture blood collection in rodents. 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.

There is a simple version of Cardiac Balloon™ that can be used prior to training with the advanced version. The simple version of the tool provides an optional step for individuals that find it helpful to have a more overt view of the anatomy to potentially provide a better opportunity to conceptualize of the steps of the procedure. Enhances the understanding of the movement of the heart when inserting the needle into it. A small , 4’’ balloon is filled slightly with air and representative of the heart, is affixed to an empty 9’’ balloon that is representative of the thoracic cavity. The advanced version of the tool has a small balloon filled with
fake blood which represents the heart. The small blood filled balloon is placed inside a larger balloon which is then filled with a gel substance which represents the rodent body surround the heart. 

Practice the procedure without gloves so that dexterity is not compromised. Once comfortable with practice of the procedure with the non-gloved hands, upgrade the practice while wearing gloves. Eentually proceed to practice on anesthetized animals.

Ingredients:

• 9” Latex balloon
• 2-4” Latex balloon (water balloon)
• Simulated blood
• Hair gel

Supplies: 3 cc syringe, 35 cc syringe or larger, Hemostat

Instructions:

1. Fill the 3 cc syringe with simulated blood (Vampire BloodR)
2. Fill the 3” balloon with the blood from the syringe, until the balloon is plump and is
   about 1.5 cm in diameter
3. Tie off the balloon while attempting to release excess air from the balloon as you tie.
   Note that a small amount of air in the balloon may actually be beneficial for the training
   exercise. When tying off, try to leave as much tail on the balloon as possible.
4. Fill the 35 cc syringe with hair gel and set aside.
5. Using the hemostat, clamp the rolled edge of the balloon, and then pass the small
   balloon into the 9” balloon and fill the 9” balloon with the hair gel until the 9” balloon is
   plump (trying not to lose any gel in the process)
6. Line up the rolled edge of the small blood-filled balloon to about 1.5 cm below the
   mouth of the 9” balloon
7. Tie off the neck of the 9” balloon while incorporating the neck of the small balloon into
   the tie. This step will secure the small balloon heart in place.

Options for other uses of the Cardiac BalloonTM: This tool could be used for various types of
palpation practice, which may in some cases require that the small balloon remain free
floating; rather than secured to the neck of the larger balloon as for the cardiac puncture
practice. 

Images and more information to help guide the process of the concept of blood collection by cardiac puncture, please see The Joy of Training Cookbook, Volume 1, page 43-46, and 79-82. 

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 see The Joy of Training Cookbook, Volume 2: (Recipies for crafting your own purpose-specific training tools for surgery practice), PART II: Aseptic Technique Training, Practice and Assessment). 

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™