Although training using live animals, such as pigs or dogs, has been performed for many years, it has become difficult in recent years due to restrictive legislation, public concern about the use of animals for training, and economic reasons. Professor Buess and his colleagues at the University of Tuebingen, Germany have developed a special trainer for providing training in both basic and advanced laparoscopic surgery. More than 3000 surgeons have been trained in this centre at Tuebingen and recently they have set up similar centers in Havana, Cuba and AIIMS, New Delhi, India.

The Tuebingen MIC-Trainer was developed in cooperation with Richard Wolf GmbH (Knittlingen, Germany). This new trainer consists of four parts: fluid reservoir, dorsal abdominal form, abdominal wall and neoprene cover (Figure 1). The form of this trainer was copied from a human body with gas insufflation; abdominal organs from the slaughterhouse can be integrated into this trainer (Figure 2). Surgeons can repeat operations such as laparoscopic cholecystectomy, appendectomy, fundoplication, colon resection and transanal endoscopic microsurgery in a realistic way and acquire a training effect in a short time.

Prof GF Buess, Director, Section of Minimally Invasive Surgery, University of Tuebingen, Germany


Mrs L Mailander, Course Director, Minimally Invasive Surgery Training Centre, Section of Minimally Invasive Surgery, University of Tuebingen, Germany


The Tuebingen MIC Trainer

The phantom trainer using animal organs has the following advantages:

1. The cost of the phantom is comparatively low
2. Tissues from the slaughterhouse are inexpensive
3. No anesthesia is necessary
4. Normal laparoscopic instruments are used
5. Quick preparation of the training model
6. More realistic anatomy

Lower bovine organ block allowing realistic rectosigmoid resection. A transanal stapling anastomosis is easily feasible.


Complete upper porcine abdominal organ block integrated in the trainer. Ideal conditions for the performance of fundoplication.>