Science Friday Designing Hyperrealistic Body Parts, From Eyeballs To Placentas
May 13, 2025
Damon Coyle, a medical sculptor and innovation specialist at the University of Missouri, crafts hyperrealistic body parts for medical training. He shares insights about his unique creations, including lifelike arms for blood draws and detailed eyeballs for trauma simulation. The conversation reveals how these realistic replicas enhance procedural skills and improve training experiences for healthcare professionals. Damon also discusses the intricate process of creating such detailed models and the exciting fusion of art and medicine in this field.
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Realistic Placenta Model
- Damon Coyle brought a hyperrealistic placenta model that feels wet but is actually shiny and solid.
- He uses magnets inside to mimic the baby's umbilical attachment for medical training purposes.
Life Cast From Pregnant Wife
- Damon used a life cast of his pregnant wife to create a full-size human arm for simulation.
- This allowed capturing realistic skin and vascular details for accurate medical training.
Eye Trauma Procedure Demo
- Damon demonstrated performing a lateral canthotomy on a hyperrealistic eye model for emergency training.
- The model helps doctors practice life-saving procedures for eye trauma with realistic textures and resistance.