Information
Plastination Process
The process of plastinating tissue originated in Heidleberg, Germany by Dr. Gunther von Hagens in 1978. There are four main steps to preparing a plastinated specimen.
- fixation
- dehydration
- impregnation
- hardening
Specimens can be from embalmed cadavers or fresh tissue.
Fixation is most commonly done using formalin solution, but can be achieved with other solutions as well.
Dehydration of the specimen is accomplished using acetone.
Impregnation of the specimen with silicone, epoxy, or polyester occurs by encasing the specimen within the polymer of choice and reducing the ambient pressure via a vacuum pump.
Once the specimen is impregnated with the polymer, it must be cured by exposing it to an agent (gas, UV light, heat, etc.) that will cause the specific polymer to harden.
The resulting specimen is easy to handle, durable, and long-lasting.
Price List
Cardiovascular
Large ‘Demonstration’ Hearts (bovine)
$550
4-chamber (frontal slice)
AV (atria removed)
LA-LV-Ao (parasternal long-axis)
Whole with windows
Medium ‘Human-Size’ Hearts Dilated (porcine)
$450
AV/SL valve (transverse/axial)
LA-LV-Ao (parasternal long-axis)
Medium ‘Human-Size’ Hearts (porcine)
Whole with windows
$250
Whole, intact
$200
Respiratory System
Airway/bronchiole cast
$350
Larynx/trachea
$150
Inflated, dried lungs
$100
Urinary
Whole double-kidney (with Ao/IVC)
$425
Bisected kidney
$200
Whole kidney with capsule
$150
Musculoskeletal
Large, flexible knee
$750
Small, flexible knee
$475
Vision
Cow eye
$250
GI
Stomach
$325