PROJECTS OLD AND NEW

On these pages you can see some of the models that I have developed in the past and also those that I am currently working on. Most of these models have been developed for teaching orthopaedic surgical techniques and are marketed by SYNBONE of Switzerland.

Some time ago the AO research institute asked me to develop a model of the upper limb, which could be used to teach surgeons the topographical anatomy of the region. The model needed to be flexible allowing displacement of overlying structures so that the deeper anatomical structures could also be viewed simulating a surgical approach and providing a three dimensional topographical view better than those currently available in textbooks.

The problem was formidable, as I was unfamiliar with sculpturing or modelling techniques and had no knowledge of the materials available. Needless to say my ignorance at the scale of the problem meant that I was relatively undaunted, I arranged a meeting with Daniel Oppliger, the präparator of the Natural History Museum in Basel.  Following our meeting he agreed to teach me the basic techniques of modelling..

During the next 18 months I first copied all the bones of the upper limb, then started dissecting a number of human limbs so that I could model each of the underlying structures individually, starting from the deepest. The model that resulted can be seen below.

The upper limb

The axilla and the medial side of the proximal humerus

Henry's dorsal approach to the humerus by splitting the triceps muscle

Henry's approach to the radius from the volar aspect

Thompson-Boyd approach to the proximal two thirds of the radius

Palmer aspect of the right hand

Note the brachial artery (20), the median nerve (10), the ulnar nerve (11) and the radial nerve (12).

Note the deep brachial artery (7) and the radial nerve (8)

Note the radial nerve (16) and how the deep branch of the radial nerve (19) penertrates the supinator muscle (7).

This approach exposes the supinator muscle (9), which lies deep to the extensor carpi radialis brevis (6) and extensor digitorum (7). The deep branch of the radial nerve (13) spirals round the radius and then emerges through the supinator.

Some of the key structures labelled are the median nerve (20), superficial branch of the ulnar nerve (21), ulnar artery (22), radial artery (23).

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The upper limb