Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy (ETV) is a neurosurgical procedure used to treat hydrocephalus, or the accumulation of excess cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain. ETVs are minimally invasive and lifesaving, yet the procedure’s steep learning curve makes them difficult to perform. The small and sensitive neuroanatomy combined with the navigation of an endoscope while watching 2D video footage makes ETV difficult to learn, with limited opportunities to gain practice outside of the OR. Our team has developed a high-fidelity physical simulator of the key steps and anatomical features of the procedure in order to improve training of ETV among neurosurgical residents.

Hundreds of thousands of interventional pulmonary operations are performed after endotracheal intubation in the US annually. These procedures use both a camera to visualize the airway and another tool to operate on it. 1,2 In robot-assisted bronchoscopies (RAB), the current gold-standard for such operations, clinicians cannot use both tools simultaneously. This can delay management of complications, such as airway bleeding, as pulmonologists switch between instruments.3,4,5

Manufacturers have attempted to design multiport adapters that allow for the insertion of multiple surgical instruments simultaneously. However, these solutions either obstruct airway visualization, compromise the airtightness of the ventilation circuit, or allow only a limited range of tools to be used.

Our design consists of a locust log ladder intended to continue a trail along a steep slope in Baltimore’s Lakeland Park. The structure uses black locust logs arranged into an interconnected system of steps that integrates risers, treads, and side supports into a single stable unit filled with gravel. The design prioritizes long-term stability and sustainability, offering a resilient alternative to traditional check steps that are more prone to erosion and frequent maintenance.

TrueCycle is a minimally invasive biosensor that uses electrochemical impedance microscopy and molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) to monitor the female hormones estradiol and progesterone in the interstitial fluid.