A new method of producing casts for anatomical studies

Area of Science:

• Anatomical studies
• Materials science
• Veterinary anatomy

Background:

• Accurate anatomical casts are crucial for detailed studies of biological structures.
• Existing casting methods can be complex, costly, or require specialized equipment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate polyurethane foam as a material for creating precise casts of vessels and viscera.
• To develop and test a new, simplified casting method using polyurethane foam for anatomical research.

Main Methods:

• A three-step process involving specimen preparation, polyurethane foam injection, and cast corrosion.
• Testing on animal lungs, renal, intestinal, and equine digital vessels.
• Foam preparation involved dilution with acetone, without a catalyst.

Main Results:

• Polyurethane foam accurately filled all injected structures, including fine bronchial and vascular branches.
• The method is cost-effective, simple, and requires no specialized equipment or formalin fixation.
• Casts hardened within 2-3 hours at room temperature without shrinkage.

Conclusions:

• Polyurethane foam is a suitable material for producing accurate casts of vessels and viscera.
• The developed method is advantageous due to its simplicity, low cost, and efficiency.
• Minor drawbacks include the inability for multiple injections and slight cast brittleness.