Burr Hole Model

This is medical model or task trainer for Burr Hole procedures.

If there is bleeding (or pus or other fluid) around the brain, the pressure from the built-up fluid can compress the brain tissue, creating a life-threatening condition. A “burr hole” is a small hole that a physician (usually a neurosurgeon or emergency room doctor) makes in the skull to remove some of the blood and relieve the pressure on the brain. This is a rare, but emergent, procedure – so practicing it is essential, but can be challenging. I created this model to help train the emergency medicine residents at my hospital on this procedure.

There’s room between the skull and brain for a bag of “blood.” And only the smaller bone insert needs to be reprinted each time. Use a sheet of silicone or modeling clay for “skin” and “soft tissue.” An incision is made into the skin with a scalpel, and then the hole is carefully drilled into the bone, while carefully avoiding the brain underneath. I included a model of an ear as an optional anatomic landmark to help guide the incision site.

If you use this model, please post photos or videos of the task trainer in action!

Note: Print settings listed below are for the Prusa i3 MK3S.

Skull

• Based on “Skull” but PatimStudios

o https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-skull-122503

• PLA
• Print at 0.2mm
• 20% infill, Gyroid pattern to mimic trabecular bone
• supports from build plate only, overhang angle threshold 50 degrees

Bone Insert

• PLA
• Print at 0.2mm
• 70% infill, Gyroid pattern to mimic trabecular bone
• supports from build plate only, overhang angle threshold 50 degrees

Brain

• Based on “Human Brain” by Vaclav Krmela

o https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-human-brain-11053

• TPU 92A
• Print at 0.2mm
• 5-10% infill, Archimedean Chords pattern to provide flexibility/squishiness to mimic the feel of brain tissue
• 2-4 bottom layers
• 2-4 top layers
• No supports

Base

• PLA
• Print at 0.2mm
• 20% infill, any structurally robust pattern (I used Gyroid)
• No supports

Ear

• Based on “Sound deverting human ear for tablets” by printhis

o https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:892512

• TPU 98A
• Print at 0.2mm
• 5-10% infill, Archimedean Chords pattern, to provide flexibility to mimic the cartilaginous earlobe
• 2-4 bottom layers
• 2-4 top layers
• No supports

Skin

• Use silicone sheets or modeling clay fit over the skull

Blood

• Corn syrup, synthetic blood, or cranberry juice in a sealed clear plastic bag
• Fit snugly in between the brain and the skull; the drill should puncture the bag after drilling through the bone

Print Settings

Printer Brand:

Prusa

Printer:

Category: Biology