A Visit to the Synthetic Cadaver Factory

October 8, 2017 8:28 PM

Inside this otherwise unassuming facility, workers are creating what may be the world’s most advanced surgical and anatomical models out of little more than salt and water. Fully synthetic corpses like these, complete with skin, muscle, organs, and bone, might one day eliminate our need to test many new technologies on humans or animals. And it’s not just SynDaver’s materials that make their cadavers unique. It’s their visceral realism.

posted by Johnny Wallflower (16 comments total)

"Visceral realism" top image is me when my alarm goes off in the morning after I've gotten up to wee in the night and returned to bed thinking I've still got a solid two hours.
posted by turbid dahlia at 9:15 PM on October 8, 2017 [3 favorites]

600 series had rubber skin. We spotted them easy.
posted by 7segment at 9:35 PM on October 8, 2017 [15 favorites]

It’s the teeth.

That photo. Is horrifying.
posted by not_the_water at 9:41 PM on October 8, 2017 [2 favorites]

I always read the first few comments before I click any links in an FPP and this is why. I'll stick to watching baby otter videos, thanks.
posted by AFABulous at 10:51 PM on October 8, 2017 [4 favorites]

Here at Westworld we want you have a good time...
posted by The Power Nap at 11:00 PM on October 8, 2017 [4 favorites]

Item: Boston Dynamics Announces New Acquisition
posted by glonous keming at 11:04 PM on October 8, 2017 [4 favorites]

In 2009, he hired his first employee and launched the Tampa operation. Eventually bringing on outside investors (a period of time that resulted in an abortive appearance on Shark Tank)

Well, the cadavers look pretty good but I wouldn't expect them to fool an actual shark.
posted by Dr Dracator at 11:36 PM on October 8, 2017 [5 favorites]

Anybody know where I can pick up some back issues of La Caborca? Asking for a friend.
posted by panama joe at 2:01 AM on October 9, 2017

I'm quietly obsessed with Syndaver. They have an unexpectedly delightful social media presence, and make a weird, innovative, hand crafted product that meet a genuine need in medical/veterinary education. Their synthetic dog alone has the potential to save thousands of dogs. In a time of overhyped VC backed vapourware (Juicero anyone?), I'm glad this company exists.
posted by nerdfish at 2:04 AM on October 9, 2017 [11 favorites]

Now I want to watch a remake of Have You Been Flying Blah Airlines with a mannequin cast from these people.
posted by flabdablet at 2:18 AM on October 9, 2017

Wait, this isn't about puppies or kittens at all.

Well... “for a forthcoming “cat-in-a-bag” product”
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:11 AM on October 9, 2017 [1 favorite]

“I can’t tell you how many investors have insisted that we start making sex dolls.”

Yuck.
posted by kersplunk at 3:48 AM on October 9, 2017 [1 favorite]

Their synthetic dog alone has the potential to save thousands of dogs.

That is totally why I made this post. Yeah, let’s go with that.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 8:00 AM on October 9, 2017 [3 favorites]

"Visceral realism" top image is me when my alarm goes off in the morning after I've gotten up to wee in the night and returned to bed thinking I've still got a solid two hours.

And the next picture below that had me think "pile of bacon". Definitely a "morning" theme in there...
posted by Hairy Lobster at 9:06 AM on October 9, 2017

More human than human.
posted by pashdown at 3:31 PM on October 9, 2017 [2 favorites]

something something MadAddam something
posted by gusandrews at 7:45 PM on October 9, 2017