Until recently, the most realistic way to practice percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), or removing kidney stones, was by use of cadavers or animals. Additional PCNL training models on the market were clear and free from obstructions, offering no challenge to the student or surgeon.
Encoris has completely changed the way PCNL training is done with our PCNL Boz Kidney Trainer, the first of its kind, offering a realistic, hand-on surgical experience for practicing the removal of kidney stones. In addition to providing a clean operating environment, the trainer is reusable up to 25 times, saving medical teams a great deal of time and money.
Holland Hospital has been on board since the initial stages, when their radiology department had a hand in testing the PCNL Kidney Trainer for potential use by their urology and ultrasound staff. We did a site visit with Fox 17 News where they got a closer look at the kidney model and trainer, as seen in the video link below.
“The PCNL trainer gives students the ability to practice removing kidney stones from multiple angles with the help of X-rays and ultrasound,” explains Erik Badgero, manager of radiology services at Holland Hospital. “It allows them to do some test runs and be able to gain experience and a level of comfort before they do it in the real world.”
The development of the kidney model trainer was a logical product extension of our existing custom-designed skeletal bone products and surgical training models which are used for surgical practice in implanting medical devices for spinal surgery and other medical procedures. The previously available kidney models and PCNL trainers were very static “one-size-fits-all” methods. At Encoris, we try to customize products that open the doors to more lifelike and anatomically correct training, and that is exactly what this does.
The model was originally designed by Dr. Giorgio Bozzini, an inventor and internationally recognized surgeon in Urology and Andrology. As noted in a Grand Rapids Business Journal article, once the prototype was complete Dr. Bozzini partnered with scientific university Politecnico di Milano to find a mass manufacturer for his product. This led him to Encoris and the partnership blossomed from there.
The PCNL Boz Kidney Trainer is available for purchase, along with all the accessories you may need. Take a close up look inside the kidney model.
Related PCNL Boz Kidney Trainer News Articles
Because the kidney trainer was such a revolutionary concept for PCNL training, we’ve been featured on various new outlets since the product was introduced to the marketplace.
- Grand Rapids Business Journal :: Google search leads to revolutionary product
Urologist from Italy partners with Holland-based Encoris to develop portable trainer for removing kidney stones - Mlive :: Technology replaces animals in kidney stone removal training
- Fox 17 News :: Holland company and hospital team up to teach medical students with new tech
- Becker’s Hospital Review :: Michigan hospital teams up with Encoris on technology to remove kidney stones
Medical device company Encoris designs and manufactures anatomical models, medical simulators, surgical trainers and medical supplies for education and simulation, and clinical skills learning within the medical sector. Our medical training products help improve the decision making process as it relates to product development and training for medical devices, hands-on teaching courses as well as critical life situational training.