1College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Ohio USA.
2Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Vitória, Brazil
For many years plastination was a desire for the Brazilian anatomists. They had a lot of lectures on the subject for many years so they were familiar with the process, at least theoretically speaking. But, you can only learn plastination by doing it! That has been our thought for many years, and I am sure it is the thought of many who practice the art of plastination.
The opportunity to hold the 11th Interim meeting on Plastination at this moment in Brazil was unique. The first step was to find a laboratory in Brazil capable of housing the material and equipment necessary to demonstrate the fundamental principles of the silicone, epoxy and polyester techniques. The creation of the Plastination Laboratory of the University of Espirito Santo in Vitoria, Brazil by Prof. Athelson Bittencourt was a milestone to propel plastination in Brazil to new heights. The laboratory was completed in January 2015, material and equipment were in place, and soon after the first specimens were produced.
meeting, interim, Victoria, Brazil
Athelson S Bittencourt, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Health Sciences Center, Marechal Campos Avenue, 1468, Maruipe, Vitoria- ES, Brazil, Zip code: 29.043-900, Fax: +55 27 33357358, email: athelson@hotmail.com
Before the Interim!
For many years plastination was a desire for the Brazilian anatomists. They had a lot of lectures on the subject for many years so they were familiar with the process, at least theoretically speaking. But, you can only learn plastination by doing it! That has been our thought for many years, and I am sure it is the thought of many who practice the art of plastination.
The opportunity to hold the 11th Interim meeting on Plastination at this moment in Brazil was unique. The first step was to find a laboratory in Brazil capable of housing the material and equipment necessary to demonstrate the fundamental principles of the silicone, epoxy and polyester techniques. The creation of the Plastination Laboratory of the University of Espirito Santo in Vitoria, Brazil by Prof. Athelson Bittencourt was a milestone to propel plastination in Brazil to new heights. The laboratory was completed in January 2015, material and equipment were in place, and soon after the first specimens were produced.
We Seized the Moment!
The time arrived for the first hands-on workshop on plastination sponsored by the ISP to be held in Latin America. There were hundreds of interested anatomists, biologists, physicians, dentists who could finally see and learn the technique of plastination in action. The 11th Interim Conference on Plastination was held in Vitoria, Brazil in the summer of 2015, based at the laboratory in the campus of the University of Espirito Santo.
The welcome message of Dr. Athelson Bittencourt was followed by Dr. Reinaldo Centoducatte, President of the University, Dr. Glaucia Rodrigues de Abreu, Director of the Health Science Center, and the President of ISP, Dr. Carlos A Baptista.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Vladimir Chereminskiy on “New Dissection Techniques: Reasons and Details of New Dissection Techniques for the Manufacturing of Plastinates.”
Participants:
More than 67 participants (representing 7 countries and 17 States of Brazil) attended the four-day conference. The meeting comprised morning lectures and afternoon hands-on activities. The hands-on activities were directed by a cast of distinguished experts on plastination: Dr. Robert W. Henry (USA), Dr. Kees H. de Jong (Netherlands), Dr. Rafael Latorre (Spain), Dr. Dmitry Starchik (Russia), Dr. Vladimir Chereminskiy (Germany), Dr. Carlos A. Baptista (USA) and Dr. Athelson S. Bittencourt (Brazil). Lectures on the topic of plastination were presented by the experts above and also by a distinguished group of scientist from Brazil on the topic of plastination and related fields: Dr. Marco Sampaio (Rio de Janeiro), Dr. Carlos Rueff Barroso (Vitoria), Dr. Andrea Oxley da Rocha (Porto Alegre) and Dr. Richard Cabral (Sao Paulo).
Program:
The oral sessions of the first day were dedicated to the basic principles of plastination. The session began with an overview of plastination (Dr. Baptista) followed by dehydration (Dr. Henry), impregnation (Dr. Latorre), curing (Dr. Baptista) , room temperature plastination (Dr. Henry) and principles of polyester (Dr. de Jong). This session provided a technical basis for the afternoon workshop. The day ended with a tour of the Government Palace (built in the XVI century) and a Reception and visit to the Human Body Exhibition: ’From Cell to Man’ at the Life Science Museum of the Federal University of Espirito Santo.
Presentations on the second day focused on technical aspects of the epoxy technique (E12) sheet plastination (Dr. Latorre) and polyester technique (P40) (Dr. de Jong). Plastination of fetus and brain specimens without shrinkage was presented by Dr. Chereminskiy and the pros and cons of the room temperature technique were presented by Dr. Starchik.
On the third day, presentations focused on strategies to obtain specimens for plastination (Dr. Oxley da Rocha), how to do sheet plastination without acetone and using Brazilian Polymer (Dr. Sampaio) and a discussion on the plastination science exhibits by Dr. Bittencourt. The day ended with a Gala Dinner and a visit to the Penha Convent, founded in 1558 and located on the top of a high mountain overlooking the city of Vitória.
The last day of the conference was devoted to issues of Health and Safety and how to set up a plastination lab. A presentation on “Safety and Hazardous Issues in Plastination” was provided by Dr. Baptista. Following the presentation, Dr. Bittencourt shared with the audience his experience on how to set up a laboratory in Brazil, discussing several aspects of safety, regulations and importation. There were several other oral presentations, posters and specimens exhibited by attendees of the conference
Workshop
The hands-on workshop was held in the afternoons and complemented the didactic sessions presented in the mornings. To facilitate learning each international instructor was paired with a Portuguese-speaking presenter (who had participated in international plastination workshops previously).
Day 1 - dehydration (freeze substitution in -25° C acetone), and impregnation (cold- and room-temperature).
Day 2 - polyester technique. Slicing a fixed brain on a meat slicer and an unfixed leg on a band saw for polyester impregnation. Constructing a glass chamber and casting a brain slice with P40.
Day 3 - dismantling and sawing P40 slices and curing of silicone (cold and room temperature).
Day 4 - final review of room-temperature and cold-curing manipulation, dismantling epoxy ‘sandwich method’ chamber and wrapping specimens for transportation.
 Opening of the Interim Conference - Auditorium of the Federal University of Espirito Santo |
 Learning Impregnation in the laboratory of Anatomy of the University of Espirito Santo |
 Assembling P40 flat chambers for impregnation of polyester resin |
 Assembling P40 flat chambers using the vertical chamber method |
 View of the city of Vitoria taken from Penha Convent high mountain. |
 Visit to the Historical Anchieta Palace of the State Government |
 Visit to the Exhibit Life Sciences at the |
 Visit to the Exhibit Life Sciences at the |
 Group Photograph on the grounds of the University of Espirito Santo |
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