A Surgical Simulator for Tympanostomy Tube Insertion Incorporating Capacitive Sensing Technology to Track Instrument Placement.

We describe a device engineered for realistic simulation of myringotomy and tympanostomy tube insertion that tracks instrument placement and objectively measures operator proficiency. A 3-dimensional computer model of the external ear and cartilaginous external auditory canal was created from a normal maxillofacial computed tomography scan, and models for the bony external auditory canal and tympanic cavity were created with computer-aided design software. Physical models were 3-dimensionally printed from the computer reconstructions.