Capstone Project 10

Anatomical Model Project

The Anatomical Model Project is a multi-year project that involves creating a model of each organ in the human body. As of the 2023 year, the body cavity, that holds the organs, and the heart has been made.

Motivations and Future Plans

My interest has always leaned towards human anatomy. Thus, I have aligned my education and career towards a job concerning the medical field. I wanted to represent my interests and passions through this project. Thus, I decided to make an anatomical model of the human body, representing the organisation of organs within the body. Not only would this serve as a depiction of my passions, but it can be used as a practical tool to assist in my learning of the human body. While I construct this anatomical model, I will be able to expand my knowledge of human anatomy. The finished result of the model would serve as a physical reminder of human anatomy once the information becomes relevant.

I plan to continue this project throughout my school years as my passion/capstone project. The free time I am able to spend on working on this project will gradually become more limited as I draw nearer to my graduation. Therefore, I have decided to spread out the workload throughout the two years I have left until I graduate. As of this year, I hope to produce at least one or two organs and complete the anatomical body itself with resin epoxy. In future year(s), I have the intention to complete the model of the human anatomy near the end of my grade 12 year.

Project Proposals

These are the project ideas I had before having to pick one of them as my passion project:

  • Lit Launcher 2.0. Although the lit launcher project is already finished, I have been interested in creating an improved version of my launcher. I felt my launcher was lacking in creativity and performance. During my freetime, I was planning to create a launcher which used a trigger to release a spring (like a spring-powered bb gun). I was able to learn of the trigger mechanism needed to lock the spring in place until the trigger was pulled, releasing the spring, and launching the projectile. Though, I chose to abandon this project since the launcher would resemble too much of a weapon. 
  • Anatomy of a Human body. I had three options for this project idea, varying in difficulty:
    • Organs only. For this project, I would only represent the organs of the human body. I would be making the body of a human from the waist up (the torso, head). If I was planning to create a miniature human body, I could 3d print the body entirely, and 3d print the organs as well. Though, this would be impractical and too easy. Another method, though expensive (approximately costing $100-200) and time consuming, is by using resin and moulding the body. The resin would be placed in a silicone mould in the shape of a human body.
    • Organs and a Skeleton. Instead of building a body, the skeletal structure would be made to hold the organs. The skeletal structure could be 3d printed parts (each 3d printed bone would be connected together by pegs and holes). The organs would also be 3D printed and placed by either stacking the organs onto the hipbone or by attaching it to the bone (peg and hole, glue, or other methods).
    • Skeleton. 3D printed bones would connect to other pieces to resemble the human skeletal structure. Labels may be put onto each bone with the name of the bone on it.

From these project ideas, I chose to create an anatomical model of the organs (those located in the chest/abdomen). This project posed many difficulties, and was a unique, yet demanding passion project. Although, I believed the results would be well worth the time and effort. Hopefully, the skeletal structure could be constructed along with the organs in the future.

 

Modelling of the Heart

As of 4-24-23, the model of the heart has not yet been completed. It is expected to take another week to accomplish. Though, my focus is on the casting of the anatomical model. 

As of 5-03-23, the atrium of the heart (its “body”) has been accomplished. Only the veins and arteries need to be modelled. Image below is of the heart model I have been developing through Blender:

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of 5-24-23, a quarter of the heart is unfinished. Only a couple more veins and arteries must be modelled for the heart to be finished.

As of 6-3-23, the model is almost completed. Since I was using a diagram of the heart’s front and back sides, the model seemed more flat. At the time, I was only using a picture as a reference. I would eventually be able to find an accurate 3D model of the heart created by Hannah Newey of the University of Dundee. The left atrium (the part that bulges out) and its pulmonary veins are in progress. Image below is of the heart model I have been developing through Blender:

As of 6-5-23, the model has been half finished. Only the veins and arteries need to be modelled. Image below is of the heart model I have been developing through Blender:

As of 6-08-23, the model has been finished. Image below is of the heart model I have been developing through Blender:

Casting the Body Cavity

4-27-23 | I have made a small resin object using casting resin and a silicone mould. This was to test the use of casting resin and silicone before the building of the anatomical body. 

5-01-23 | 1.5 gallons of epoxy has been bought and acquired. The attachment below is a picture of the product I have gotten:

5-21-23 | 1 gallon of silicone has been bought and acquired. 

5-22-23 | Silicone mould has been created.

5-24-23 | Resin epoxy has been poured into the mould. The resin has been left to be fully cast.

5-25-23 | Resin epoxy has been fully casted in the mould. However, air bubbles in the resin resulted in numerous “craters” throughout the surface of the anatomical body. Another coat of resin may be needed to smooth out the uneven surface.

6-01-23 | Sharp edges of the body cavity have been removed and smoothened out using sandpaper.