Abstract: An alginate-polyacrylamide IPN hydrogel formulation for 3D printing using a dual syringe system where the components that initiate polymerization of each network remain separated until printing. The dual syringe system may use a single motor and mixing head to combine both parts of the hydrogel formulation for controlled polymerization of the material. The elastic and time-dependent viscoelastic properties (stress relaxation) are tuned to match mammalian tissues by changing the crosslink density and monomer concentration. The fracture energy of the material may be increased by soaking in a calcium chloride solution. The resulting IPN polymer material may find application in soft tissue medical simulation devices, particularly because the mechanical properties may be tuned to mimic the elastic and viscoelastic properties of muscle tissue and may be 3D printed in the shape of anatomical parts.

Abstract: A pressure ulcer simulator for training medical practitioners includes a simulator model comprising one or more layers of simulated tissue. A plurality of pressure sensors are in communication with the one or more layers of simulated tissue and are configured to generate a pressure value sensed from one or more locations of the one or more layers of simulated tissue. A sensor system is in communication with the plurality of pressure sensors and is configured to receive the pressure values from one or more locations of the one or more layers of simulated tissue and to generate a risk value of developing a pressure ulcer for the one or more locations of the one or more layers of simulated tissue.