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The aim of the Institute for
Plastination (IfP) is to produce human specimens and make them
available both for basic and continuing medical training of doctors as
well as for the general medical education of the public. The specimens
are prepared solely for this purpose and only passed on directly to
recognized educational and research establishments and scientific
museums, but not to private individuals or outside suppliers.
The IfP is dedicated to the following objectives: Producing and providing anatomical specimens exclusively to institutes
engaged in anatomy, pathology, and forensic medicine at universities and medical training institutes throughout the world; Producing and providing anatomical
specimens for practice operations such as procedures on the temporal
bone for ENT specialists in training; Producing and providing anatomical specimens for the purpose of training students; Producing and providing anatomical specimens to established natural science museums; Producing specimens for internal use such as the development of
anatomical atlases and a computerized anatomical project (CD-ROM).
The
IfP pursues scientific goals as the Plastination technique is constantly improved. Visiting scientists and scholarship recipients from
universities all over the world contribute to this endeavor.
Furthermore, the IfP disseminates the know-how of Plastination
worldwide so that other teaching institutions may benefit from this
unique process. There are now more than 400 Plastination
laboratories in 40 countries around the world using Plastination to
prepare specimens for academic study. Despite all of the progress made
to date, the need for further research is immense. Testing of new polymers and techniques is necessary in order to improve Plastination. The development of techniques that could be used to retain
the color of tissues and to improve results for structures like the eye, which are difficult to preserve are a part of this. Every two
years, participants at the International Plastination Conference have
the opportunity of exhibiting the plastinates that they have produced.
In addition, the "International Society for Plastination" and its
publication "The Journal of the International Society for Plastination"
provide additional forums for experts in the field to exchange
information concerning advances in the scientific application of the
process. Current issues include how slice plastinates can be used to
show complex systems such as the blood supply to the bones of the wrist
or how to display subtle structures such as the muscles and nerves
surrounding the prostate. These tissues are critical for proper sexual
functioning and understanding them is an extremely important means of
obtaining precision when planning delicate surgical procedures.
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