From Dry Box to Dry Cup: Portable Laparoscopic Training Through Task Decomposition

Laparoscopic training is prolonged because it requires adaptation to indirect two-dimensional vision and hand-eye dissociation. Yet, access to effective off-the-job training remains uneven because of limited time, space, mentorship, and simulation resources. We propose the “Dry Cup” as a portable, decomposition-first approach to laparoscopic training rather than a standardized device. Using readily available materials, short portable instruments, a webcam, and consumer-grade display devices, the Dry Cup creates a portable two-dimensional training environment outside dedicated simulation spaces. Complex laparoscopic skills are decomposed hierarchically into trainable work units, allowing learners to localize the true bottleneck of performance and practice specific components in short, repeated sessions. In this framework, portability applies not only to the physical setup but also to the visual environment. The Dry Cup is a portable training philosophy that enables task-specific practice anytime and anywhere. By linking portability with hierarchical task decomposition, this approach may help integrate deliberate off-the-job training into daily clinical life and reduce disparities in laparoscopic education, particularly in resource-limited settings.