ArticleCureus2026
Engineering a High-Fidelity Neonatal Silicone Phantom: Development, Optimization, and User Evaluation of a 3D-Printed Vascular Access Model.
Article in Cureus, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Securing intravenous (IV) access in neonates is technically challenging due to extremely small vessel caliber, fragile skin, and limited subcutaneous tissue. High-fidelity training phantoms are essential for teaching ultrasound-guided vascular access, yet most commercial models are adult-sized, lack neonatal realism, and are cost-prohibitive. The aim of this study was to design and optimize a low-cost, ultrasound-compatible 3D silicone phantom that replicates neonatal tissue and vasculature for peripheral and central IV access training. A multi-phase design process incorporated 3D-printed polylactic acid (PLA) molds, Dragon Skin™ silicone (Smooth-On, Inc., Macungie, PA, USA), Slacker® softener (Smooth-On, Inc., Macungie, PA, USA), and 3% talcum powder to enhance echogenicity. Silicone tubing (0.2-0.4 mm internal diameters (ID)) was embedded at neonatal-appropriate depths using rotational casting for dermal uniformity and vessel channel supports for positional accuracy. Iterative engineering improved dermal wall uniformity, vessel stability, and ultrasound visibility, resulting in a durable, reproducible phantom with realistic tissue compliance and vessel compressibility. The developed 3D silicone phantom provides a realistic, affordable, and reproducible neonatal vascular access simulator. User feedback supports its fidelity and utility, and its low material cost enables broad implementation in neonatal procedural training programs.
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