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in reply to: Labelling plastinated specimens for OSPE exams #4686
Great, thank you Selcuk!
Chris, I’ll look into acupuncture needles too.
Best wishes,
Simon
in reply to: Labelling plastinated specimens for OSPE exams #4683Hi Selcuk,
Is this the stuff?
I have the same issues as Jessica. Pins leave holes, stickers and blu-tack don’t work.
in reply to: Disposal of Formalin #4372Hi Carys,
Not so much with formalin, but we dispose of Thiel fluid in a similar way. In the past we’ve paid a company to take it away for us, but it’s very expensive. We agreed with Yorkshire water to dispose of it directly into the drain at the rate of 100 litres a day max with copious amounts of water (no other neutralisers). It’s slow, but much less costly. We’ve never had any issues with YW.
BW,
Simon
in reply to: Buying an embalming pump #4369👍👍👍
in reply to: Buying an embalming pump #4363I talked to our embalmer, he said the other company he contacted was Omega. He got through to them last week using the contact details on their website:
https://omegasuppliesuk.com/in reply to: Buying an embalming pump #4361We’re looking to buy one as well, I believe Mazwell (Dodge) will supply it. I’ll talk to our embalmer to see if he’s considered anyone else.
in reply to: Disposing of Plastinates #4305Hi TunaliS,
It’s more the specifics in the UK. We use both of those methods within our facility, I believe cremation is out of the question due to the silicone being retained with the ashes and enviornmental laws here. Medical waste is the more likely route, however, I believe from talking to colleagues at Dundee University that Scottish environmental laws prevent this too. The laws in England (where I am) may be different, I just wondered if anyone had experience of the situation.
The reason for disposing is that we had one that deteriorated during curing. The specimen was from an elderly individual and the muscles were very friable. We’re going to retain some of the specimen, so all is not lost.
in reply to: Emptying Thiel Tanks #4291We originally had a company come in to drain the tanks and dispose of the fluid, however it was expensive. Our embalmer now disposes of it at the rate of 100 litres a day directly into the drain (with plenty of water to flush), this was agreed with the local water board. However, we have 2x 2 cadaver tanks that take 1400l each, so it takes 4 weeks to dispose of it all.
It’s possible if you only have a small number of tanks and you get the okay from H&S and the water board. Our emabalmer first decants it into a mobile trough (he worked out what level 100l was) and then drains it.
in reply to: Plastination chamber free to a good home #4109Hi Samuel,
I’ve only just seen this, I might be interested. Is it still available?
Best wishes,
Simon
in reply to: Institutions Plastinating in the UK & Ireland #4011Slight update to the list:
Royal Veterinary College
University of Nottingham: Vet School
University of Oxford: Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics
University of Edinburgh: Royal School of Veterinary Studies, starting out
University of Glasgow: School of Veterinary Medicine
University of Aberdeen: School of Medicine and Dentistry
University of Cambridge are planning to start plastination
University of Sheffield from Georgina’s kind response.
University of Dundee, I’ve recently been in contact with them.
Simon
in reply to: Institutions Plastinating in the UK & Ireland #4010Hi Carrie,
Sorry to hear that. There are ways and means with Health & Safety, ours have been helpful although we’ve had to jump though a lot of hoops. I may be able to help or direct them to our H&S guys, please contact me on simon.witty@hyms.ac.uk if you need any help.
in reply to: Institutions Plastinating in the UK & Ireland #4007Hi Alasdair,
That’s good to hear, Fiona was on the same course I attended in 2015, glad you’re getting going.
I have used room temperature plastination on a few occasions. It’s faster overall, however you’ll get shrinkage to different degrees depending on the tissues types. Musculoskeletal will be fine. I’ve no direct experience with neuro tissue but I hear it shrinks heavily, but proportional, i.e. you end up with small but perfectly formed brains.
There are other issues, safety wise storing the acetone at -25C helps to bring it below the flash point of acetone which helps to mitigate the issues. Another method of storing it will be needed for room temperature, we have a back up fire cabinet. The maximum quantity of acetone that you can store in a room (without heavy mods or expensive cabinets is 50 litres), including any in use. We have a cabinet in another room to help with this.
Another issue is that the S10 & S3 mixture will thicken at room temperature (it slows right down at -15C). This will reduce the life span of your silicone and make it more costly. It makes it difficult for specimens that take longer, i.e. large specimens or dense ones such as livers. You may need to change your mix as it gets thick, adding further to the cost.
If you need any more help, please contact me on simon.witty@hyms.ac.uk
in reply to: Body acceptance weight limit #3900We have an upper weight limit of 15 stone (95Kg). It’s more of a rough guide than an absolute limit, when our staff accept they make a judgement call based on the height too. We don’t have a lower limit, however, the person accepting would make a call if it was excessively low.
in reply to: Institutions Plastinating in the UK & Ireland #3640I’ve been sent a list of institutions that have been supplied by Biodur,
Royal Veterinary College
University of Nottingham: Vet School
University of Oxford: Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics
University of Edinburgh: Royal School of Veterinary Studies
University of Glasgow: School of Veterinary Medicine
University of Aberdeen: School of Medicine and Dentistry
University of Cambrigde are planning to start plastination
And Sheffield from Georgina’s kind response.
I also visited Dundee when we started, so I know they at least used to plastinate.
Simon
in reply to: Institutions Plastinating in the UK & Ireland #3639Thanks Fraser. Just out of interest, can I ask why you don’t use them?
Simon
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