Operation Rulebook

Table of Contents

Equipment
To Set Up the Game
Rules
Special Game for One Player

Equipment

Cavity Sam, the "Patient," is on a plastic-framed platform with 12 holes (cavities) that are the locations for the operations. An arrow points from each cavity to a picture of the "Funatomy" object to be removed. To the right of Cavity Sam's head, a wire leads to the surgical tweezers used to remove objects. Cavity Sam also has a red plastic nose that lights up and a buzzer.
To activate the surgical tweezers, insert two "D" cell flashlight batteries (not supplied) underneath the platform. Test the action by touching the tweezers to the metal edge of a cavity—this should make the nose light up and the buzzer sound.
The "Cards," "Money," and "Funatomy" parts are under the plastic platform.

To Set Up the Game

Separate the 24 cards by their backs into Doctor cards and Specialist cards. Shuffle the Specialist cards and deal them out one at a time so each player gets an equal number (leftover Specialist cards are set aside, out of the game). Shuffle all the Doctor cards and place them facedown as a draw pile.
Designate one player as the banker, who pays players for successful operations.
Attach the small "Funatomy" parts and drop each into its proper cavity as pictured on the board (e.g. the "Broken Heart" part in the "Broken Heart" cavity). The rubber band (for the "Ankle Bone Connected to the Knee Bone" operation) is dropped lengthwise into the narrow part of its cavity without looping over either peg. No Funatomy part should be protruding above its cavity at the start of the game.

Rules

Players take turns, going clockwise, trying to perform a successful operation.
On your turn, draw the top Doctor card and read it. It tells you which operation to do and the fee you receive if you perform it successfully (e.g. a "Rib Surgeon" card removes the "Spare Ribs" for $200). Using the surgical tweezers, insert them carefully into the cavity, grasp the part, and try to get it out without touching the edges of the cavity.
The "Ankle Bone Connected to the Knee Bone" operation requires you to connect one loop of the rubber band to the tiny post at one end of the cavity and, stretching it, connect the other loop over the post at the opposite end.
If you remove the part completely (or connect the rubber band) without sounding the buzzer or lighting the nose, it's a successful operation: you get your fee from the bank, keep the part, that Doctor card is out of the game, and your turn ends.
If, during an operation, you touch the edge of the cavity (causing the buzzer to sound and/or the nose to light), you are not successful: the part is dropped back into the cavity and your turn ends.
When a player is unsuccessful, the Specialist for that same operation is called on—the holder of the matching Specialist card may try to remove the part and, if successful, gets the higher fee on the Specialist card. (If there is no Specialist card for an operation, only the Doctor tries it.)
If neither the Doctor (first try) nor the Specialist (second try) succeeds, the Doctor card goes to the bottom of the draw pile, while the Specialist card holder keeps it for the next time that operation is attempted.
At the start of the game, players may agree on a time limit for each operation (a one-minute period is suggested). One player keeps time; when time is up, the operation must stop and is unsuccessful.
If a player drawing a Doctor card also holds the Specialist card for that operation, they get two tries: the first for the Doctor fee, the second for the Specialist fee. If they fail both times, the Doctor card returns to the bottom of the pile, but they keep the Specialist card.
When all twelve operations have been completed successfully, the game ends. The player with the most money is the winner.

Special Game for One Player

A player may test their skill by trying to perform all 12 operations. When they fail an operation, they replace the removed parts and start all over again. Operations may be tried in any sequence. With practice, it can be done!

Equipment

Cavity Sam, the "Patient," is on a plastic-framed platform with 12 holes (cavities) that are the locations for the operations. An arrow points from each cavity to a picture of the "Funatomy" object to be removed. To the right of Cavity Sam's head, a wire leads to the surgical tweezers used to remove objects. Cavity Sam also has a red plastic nose that lights up and a buzzer.

To activate the surgical tweezers, insert two "D" cell flashlight batteries (not supplied) underneath the platform. Test the action by touching the tweezers to the metal edge of a cavity—this should make the nose light up and the buzzer sound.

The "Cards," "Money," and "Funatomy" parts are under the plastic platform.

To Set Up the Game

Separate the 24 cards by their backs into Doctor cards and Specialist cards. Shuffle the Specialist cards and deal them out one at a time so each player gets an equal number (leftover Specialist cards are set aside, out of the game). Shuffle all the Doctor cards and place them facedown as a draw pile.

Designate one player as the banker, who pays players for successful operations.

Attach the small "Funatomy" parts and drop each into its proper cavity as pictured on the board (e.g. the "Broken Heart" part in the "Broken Heart" cavity). The rubber band (for the "Ankle Bone Connected to the Knee Bone" operation) is dropped lengthwise into the narrow part of its cavity without looping over either peg. No Funatomy part should be protruding above its cavity at the start of the game.

Rules

Players take turns, going clockwise, trying to perform a successful operation.

On your turn, draw the top Doctor card and read it. It tells you which operation to do and the fee you receive if you perform it successfully (e.g. a "Rib Surgeon" card removes the "Spare Ribs" for $200). Using the surgical tweezers, insert them carefully into the cavity, grasp the part, and try to get it out without touching the edges of the cavity.

The "Ankle Bone Connected to the Knee Bone" operation requires you to connect one loop of the rubber band to the tiny post at one end of the cavity and, stretching it, connect the other loop over the post at the opposite end.

If you remove the part completely (or connect the rubber band) without sounding the buzzer or lighting the nose, it's a successful operation: you get your fee from the bank, keep the part, that Doctor card is out of the game, and your turn ends.

If, during an operation, you touch the edge of the cavity (causing the buzzer to sound and/or the nose to light), you are not successful: the part is dropped back into the cavity and your turn ends.

When a player is unsuccessful, the Specialist for that same operation is called on—the holder of the matching Specialist card may try to remove the part and, if successful, gets the higher fee on the Specialist card. (If there is no Specialist card for an operation, only the Doctor tries it.)

If neither the Doctor (first try) nor the Specialist (second try) succeeds, the Doctor card goes to the bottom of the draw pile, while the Specialist card holder keeps it for the next time that operation is attempted.

At the start of the game, players may agree on a time limit for each operation (a one-minute period is suggested). One player keeps time; when time is up, the operation must stop and is unsuccessful.

If a player drawing a Doctor card also holds the Specialist card for that operation, they get two tries: the first for the Doctor fee, the second for the Specialist fee. If they fail both times, the Doctor card returns to the bottom of the pile, but they keep the Specialist card.

When all twelve operations have been completed successfully, the game ends. The player with the most money is the winner.