Plastination

 

Plastination is a chemical process of conserving anatomical specimens by methods in which all bodily fluids are replaced with a synthetic polymer, done to create easily handleable and undegradable organs for medical study. This process which is now commonly used in teaching facilities was created by Dr. Gunther von Hagens in 1977, and had been further developed and perfected in the years following by Hagens and other plastination experts. While it is a complex chemical process we have outlined the very basics below.

Throughout the last year Jeremy has been learning and perfecting the process of plastination to create specimens through his own work that are too damaged for wet specimen requirements. As Jeremy does not believe in disposing remains that are deemed “too far gone”, he values his research is learning new methods of preservation to salvage these donated bodies from loss. Some recent examples include a full human brain, a human fetus in-utero, cerebral samples, and other commonly studied organs.

Procedure

  • Lipid & Hydro: step 1

    Once the specimen is acquired it is necessary to remove all soluble fats in a bath of acetone. This is done under freezing conditions which then draws out the water and replaces it inside each individual cell.

    Though at-room temperature protocols exist they are still largely in their infancy. The use of sub-freezing temperatures allows for greater chemical stability but increases duration.

  • Polymer impregnation: step 2

    This is where the main phase in plastinating a specimen takes place. In this step, the specimen is placed in a bath of liquid polymer inside a vacuum. The vacuum then causes the acetone to boil at a low temperature. Which in turn causes the acetone to vaporize and leave the cells -drawing the polymer into each cell to replace the acetone. This process can last 2 to 5 weeks depending on the specimen.

  • Curing: Step 3

    The next and final stage of the process is curing. Depending upon the polymer used the specimen is then hardened with gas, light or heat. This protects the specimen from further decay, making the specimen impenetrable to decay and allows for handleable study aids for years to come!

An advancement in medicine

Platinated specimens are slowly taking over the world of medical cadavers in study - replacing outdated methods such as formaldehyde cured organs and plastic models. Plastination is unmatched in its ability to capture the anatomical details needed for medical students all over the world to fully comprehend the human body.