Realistic artificial cadaver in use at Big Bend
The expressions on the student’s faces attest to the realism SynDaver provides for anatomy and physiology students at Big Bend Community College. From left: instructor Barbara Jacobs and students Elizabeth Novikov, Alena Beloborodyy and Susan Krcma.
MOSES LAKE — Big Bend Community College has acquired a teaching tool that is even better than a human cadaver.
The college now has an artificial cadaver for use in anatomy and physiology classes, which BBCC instructor Barbara Jacobs said is better than the real thing. The synthetic cadaver, or “SynDaver,” uses hundreds of replaceable muscles, bones, organs, veins and arteries, each of which is made from materials that mimic the mechanical, thermal and physiochemical properties of live human tissue, according to a release from the college.
Jacobs said the synthetic human tissues and body parts make for a “more realistic” and “better teaching tool” than a real human cadaver.
“The tissue in a human cadaver turns gray and the veins and arteries are flat,” she said. “The color and texture of the muscles, veins and arteries of a SynDaver are correct, and the veins and arteries are full. You can pull a tendon and a finger will move.”
Pre-nursing students at Big Bend will become very familiar with the college’s new synthetic cadaver, as they are required to pass Jacobs’ anatomy and physiology class to gain entry to the nursing program.
According to college officials, there are various models of the SynDaver that are used to replace animals, cadavers, clinical training, human patients in medical device studies, and surgical simulations.
“It is the perfect learning alternative to dissecting real animals,” Jacobs said. “It is more accurate and a wonderful tool for our anatomy students.”
The artificial tissues and body parts are manufactured from water, fibers and salts. The cadaver is stored in a 70-gallon water tank.
The college expects the cadaver will last for many years if it is properly maintained and cared for. Human cadavers are replaced every two years and have their own accompanying set of rules and expenses, according to the college’s release.
One minor obstacle Big Bend faces with the artificial cadaver involves its removal from the water storage tank for use. The device being developed to lift the SynDaver out of the tank and place it on a table is not yet available, per the college release. For now, two people have to lift the cadaver out of the tank and place it on the table.
Students are also required to wear gloves while working with the synthetic cadaver to protect the device from human contamination.
Big Bend’s SynDaver was purchased with funds from a federal grant, according to the release. Doug Sly, the college's public information director, said the cadaver cost $40,000 and there are some models that go for twice as much. More expensive models have other features, he said, from having synthetic skin to thrashing around on the table like a real accident victim might.
Sly said Samaritan Healthcare administrators took a tour at BBCC several weeks that included the college's STEM center, medical simulation lab, meeting the director of the unmanned aerial systems program, and a demonstration of the SynDaver. He said the hospital administrators were impressed by the demonstration of the artificial cadaver.
Basin Family Chiropractic owner Steve Ausere researched and wrote the proposal to acquire the artificial cadaver for BBCC. Ausere serves on the advisory committee of the college’s new Medical Simulation Technician Program.
Ryan Minnerly can be reached via email at county@columbiabasinherald.com.