Doctors from University Hospital Brno, together with experts from Brno University of Technology, are jointly developing silicone models for practising cleft surgery. The training aid will enable young doctors to acquire essential skills before they begin operating on real patients in the operating theatre. Until now, a simulator of comparable quality has not been available on the market.
As part of an interdisciplinary collaboration, plastic surgeons from the Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery at University Hospital Brno and the Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, led by MUDr. Olga Košková, Ph.D., have worked with biomechanics experts Ing. Petr Marcián, Ph.D., and Ing. Petr Hájek, Ph.D., from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Brno University of Technology to develop a new generation of silicone models for simulating cleft lip and palate surgery. A key clinical partner is the Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery at University Hospital Brno and the Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, headed by doc. MUDr. Libor Streit, Ph.D., which brings many years of experience in cleft surgery to the project.
“Our aim was to create a model that enables realistic surgical training in a safe environment. Young surgeons can thus acquire key skills before working with real patients in the operating theatre,” said MUDr. Olga Košková, Ph.D.
“This project shows just how powerful the connection between medicine and engineering can be. We also greatly appreciate the involvement of the student team from strojLAB, who took part in both the development and testing of the models. Working on projects like this is a crucial experience for them,” added Ing. Petr Marcián, Ph.D.
Cleft Lip and Palate Models: From Development to Practice
The development of the models was based on close collaboration between doctors and biomechanics experts from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Brno University of Technology, specifically from the Institute of Solid Mechanics, Mechatronics and Biomechanics. This made it possible to create models that faithfully replicate not only human anatomy but also the mechanical properties of human tissue. Their design required fine-tuning a wide range of details: the model consists of several layers that realistically simulate skin, muscles, and blood vessels.
The silicone models are not intended for direct use on patients; rather, they serve primarily as an advanced training tool. Simulation-based teaching is now an integral part of modern medicine, allowing practical surgical skills to be developed safely. The new models will be used systematically for the first time during the international Pre-Congress ICPF 2026 course in Brno, held under the auspices of the Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, and University Hospital Brno. The course will provide space for sharing experience and hands-on training for specialists from different countries, while also building on the strong tradition of Czech cleft surgery and contributing to its further development and international presentation.