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| B O D Y W O R L D S 3 | June 5, 2007 | Portland Tribune and Community Newspapers

3) In a vacuum chamber, the acetone-saturated body is im-mersed in a bath of low-vis-cosity silicone. Acetone has a low boiling point, and when the vacuum is applied, it boils off and evaporates from the body. Te silicone permeates the body, filling the vacuum formed when the acetone vacates the tissues.

1) To stop the decomposition of the specimen, several liters of a preservation fluid are injected into the arteries. Te body then is anatomically dissected. Depending on the type of dissection, this step can take several weeks or even months.

The Fascination

with Plastination

Until recently the privilege to look inside the hu-man body has been confned to those in the medical professions. With Dr. Gunther von Hagens’ invention of Plastination at the University of Heidelberg in 1977, laypeople are now able to enjoy the same fascinating insights into the human body.

Plastination is a process that unites extremely subtle

forms of anatomy and advanced polymer chemistry. It permits isolated tissue organs and even whole bodies to be preserved in an extraordinarily durable and re-alistic way.

Plastination is a unique method of preserving tissue in a life-like state. It is a vacuum process in which bio-logical specimens are impregnated with reactive poly-

mers like silicone rubber, epoxy or polyester resin. Te class of polymer used determines the optical (transparent or opaque) and mechanical (flexible or frm) properties of the specimen. Plastinated speci-mens are dry, odorless, durable and last indefnitely. Tey retain their original surface reliefs and cellular identities down to the microscopic level.

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2) Water and lipids ( fats) must be removed from the body before polymers can be introduced. Te body is immersed in acetone, a solvent that dissolves body fluids and fats. Ice cold acetone is used to remove fluids, while a room-tempera-ture bath removes fats.

4 ) Te body is posed, tented and treated with a gas, with light or with heat that hardens the polymer.

5) Te body is put on display

BlOOd Vessels in the hand

The Five Steps of The Plastination Technique

The Fascination with Plastination and The Plastination Technique reproduced courtesy of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, OH.

BODY WORLDS