Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42520635›Full record

ArticleJournal of surgical education2026

How I Do It: OpenTrainer, An Open-Source Laparoscopic Surgery Simulator With a Smartphone Endoscope.

Arvind Nandakumar, Maria R Hudock, Griffin Welsh Daly, Mohamed Diane, Meghal Shah, Daniel Naveed Tavakol, Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of surgical education, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Arvind NandakumarDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York.
Maria R HudockDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York.
Griffin Welsh DalyDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York.
Mohamed DianeDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York; Department of Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York.
Meghal ShahDepartment of Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York.
Daniel Naveed TavakolDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York.
Gordana Vunjak-NovakovicDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York; Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York. Electronic address: gv2131@columbia.edu.

Funding

Tissue Engineering Resource Center: TTDP41EB027062 · NIBIB · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · PI Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic · 2019 to 2026
$12.6M
NIBIB NIH HHS P41 EB027062
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo develop a low-cost DIY laparoscopic surgical simulator that uses a smartphone and can easily be replicated.

design(1) utilize fabrication methodologies available at most university or community makerspaces (2) utilize hardware and software that is easy to access and install (3) include training modules for the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) exam. (4) provide a framework for developing surgery training modules.

settingNonclinical collaboration between biomedical engineering and surgery departments at an academic medical center.

participantsN/A.

resultsThe FLS trainer, a commercial surgical simulator commonly used to prepare for the FLS exam, costs $4686.

conclusionsBy utilizing fabrication methodologies available at most university and community makerspaces, the OpenTrainer surgical simulator is readily made at low cost, enabling more trainees to access laparoscopic training, and potentially earlier in training. Within the OpenTrainer footprint, new training modules can be designed for students to practice techniques beyond the traditional FLS exam. COMPETENCY: Practice-Based Learning and Improvement, Medical Knowledge.

Indexed as

EndoscopesLaparoscopySimulation TrainingSmartphoneClinical CompetenceEquipment DesignHumansendoscopeFundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery Examlaparoscopic trainingsmartphonesurgery simulatorsurgical education

Identifiers

PMID42520635
PMCPMC13526417

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.