3 T Training Tool: Cutting Ring™

Cutting Ring™ consists of one layer of piece of rubber materials, such as a large balloon, that is gently stretched and secured into an oval or round set of rings i.e. the kind of rings that are used for embroidery or stitchery work. Three small holes are made at one end of the rubber material, each hole about 5 mm long and space about 5 cm (2”) apart. For a more challenging version of the tool, secure pieces of thread, string or balloons into the rings, under the rubber. These objects represent blood vessels and other delicate structures to avoid when cutting animal tissues. Helps practice scissor handling and cutting, proper grip of surgical scissor while making a shallow cut through tissue, proper hand movements and position required to extend an incision with surgical scissors. Practice gently elevation scissors and tissue to avoiding inadvertently cutting the underlying tissues and blood vessels when extending an incision.

Tissue Board™ is part of the 3 Ts Training Tools (3 Ts), a training method designed to provide hands-on training and practice for individuals working with animals in research, testing and educational settings. They incorporates simple, inexpensive, and effective tools to teach and encourage practice of non-surgical and surgical procedures, prior to conducting similar training and practice on live animals. The tools used for the 3 Ts surgical curriculum for Aseptic Rodent Surgery Training and Practice is called the “3 Ts Dexterity Tools™”. These exercises are designed to address many of the common repetitive hand motions and skills required to perform surgery. Trainees will learn to translate the skills they have developed on the 3 Ts inanimate training tools into practice on live animals. For more information about Translational Training Tools™.

Description of the Cutting Ring™ exercises:

1. Using the proper grasp of the Metzenbaum scissors inserts the lower blade of the scissors into one of the precut holes in the band
2. Keeping the lower blade of the scissor elevated and visible form the surface of the rubber material and also keeping the scissor tips up and away from potential organs below the surface being cut, the trainee uses a smooth continuous motion, to extend the incision, to approximately 10 cm (4“) in length, without creating jagged edges to the incision, nor cutting any of the underlying objects.
Note that there are 3 holes on each Cutting Ring™ which the trainee can use to practice extending incisions. 

Ingredients:

• Embroidery ring: we use various sizes mostly oval rings of the following dimensions: 2” x 6” and 3” x 8” or round rings of 6” diameter
• Thin rubber material. We use either one of the following materials:
  - Qualatex® 36” diameter latex balloons ((http://www.qualatex.com)
  - TheraBand™ exercise band material (http://www.thera-band.com)
• When using the Cutting Ring™ for surgery practice, equip the trainee with at least one pair of Metzenbaum surgical scissors

Supplies: Craft scissors for cutting the rubber material

Instructions:

1. Cut the rubber material to a size that is about 1.5 inches larger than the border of the embroidery ring.
2. Separate the larger, outer portion of the embroidery ring from the smaller, inner portion.
3. Lay cut piece of rubber material over the smaller inner ring.
4. Place the larger, outer ring over top of the rubber material.
5. Tighten the rings together using the screw mechanism on the embroidery ring.
6. Cut 3 holes approximately 1/2” long, at one end of the rubber material. These holes are for placement of the Metzenbaum scissors during the training exercise.

For a more challenging version of the tool, secure pieces of thread, string or balloons into the rings, under the rubber. These objects represent blood vessels and other delicate structures to avoid when cutting animal tissues.

For more information and images to help guide the process, please see The Joy of Training Cookbook, Volume 2: (Recipies for crafting your own purpose-specific training tools for surgery practice). 

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™

2 . Micro Dexterity Tools™: 

1. 1. Peg Boards™
   2. Bead Threading™
   3. Earrings and Backs™
   4. Color Band Boards™
   5. Bead Cup Exploratory™

Please also see The Joy of Training Cookbook, Volume 1: (Recipies for crafting your own purpose-specific training tools for non-surgical procedures).

3 Ts Training Tools from Volume 1:

• 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)