Anatomy & Embryology

Basic principles of sheet plastination:

1 cutting/sawing

2 fixation

3 dehydration

4 impregnation

5 curing

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curing

curing of the polyester-impregnated slices is done

by UV-A light in absense of air

the specimen is placed under a UV-A light source in

a flat chamber

Anatomy & Embryology

flat chamber:

consist of 2 window-glass plates, separated by

a silicone gasket, connected by

foldback clamps

curing

Anatomy & Embryology

assembling a flat chamber:

1 put the silicone gasket between the 2 glass-plates

and put 1 fold-back clamp on

curing

Anatomy & Embryology

assembling a flat chamber:

1 put the silicone gasket between the 2 glass-plates

and put 1 fold-back clamp on

curing

Anatomy & Embryology

assembling a flat chamber:

2 and put a second fold-back clamp on, on the other

side

curing

Anatomy & Embryology

assembling a flat chamber:

3 finish the flat chamber on 3 consecutive sides

curing

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curing

filling a flat chamber:

1 fold back the clamps on the bottom of the flat chamber

and put the flat chamber on a stand

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curing

filling a flat chamber:

2 introduce a specimen-slice in the open side of the

flat chamber

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curing

filling a flat chamber:

3 introduce a funnel in the opening of the flat chamber

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curing

filling a flat chamber:

3 and fill the flat chamber with fresh polyester

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filling a flat chamber:

4 close the top of the flat chamber by inserting the

silicone gasket between the 2 glass plates and apply

1 clamp after the other

curing

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curing

filling a flat chamber:

4 close the top of the flat chamber by inserting the

silicone gasket between the 2 glass plates and apply

1 clamp after the other

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curing

filling a flat chamber:

4 close the top of the flat chamber by inserting the

silicone gasket between the 2 glass plates and apply

1 clamp after the other

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curing

filling a flat chamber:

5 after applying the last clamp only a narrow gap is

left open

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curing

filling a flat chamber:

6 this is closed by pushing silicone-putty in it, compressing

the remaining air

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curing

filling a flat chamber:

6 this is closed by pushing silicone-putty in it, compressing

the remaining air

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curing

filling a flat chamber:

7 this compressed air is evacuated by pushing an injection

needle between the glass-plate and the silicone gasket

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curing

filling a flat chamber:

7 this compressed air is evacuated by pushing an injection

needle between the glass-plate and the silicone gasket

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expose to UV-A light

and cool with a

ventilator, to avoid

heat accumulation

curing

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curing

due to shrinkage of the polyester during curing,

Newton rings will appear at the surface of the

slice under the glass plate, indicating that curing is

complete.

also the glass chamber will cool down, indicating no

more heat is generated during polymerization of the

polyester

Anatomy & Embryology

when curing is complete, the flat chamber is

dismanteled:

• fold-back clamps are removed,

• silicone gasket is removed,

• upper glass-plate is removed,

• specimen is taken off the lower glass-plate

Anatomy & Embryology

Anatomy & Embryology

trim the specimen along the edges:

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trim the specimen along the edges:

Anatomy & Embryology

QUESTIONS???