A new material and technic in the art of somato-prosthesis.

Abstract

The search for materials to be employed in the fabrication of a somato-prosthesis dates back to the days of Pierre Fauchard (1541). In reporting this and other historical facts relative to this art, Kazanjian,' in an early work, describes the use of vulcanite rubber as a base material, the surface of which was covered with celluloid paints to match skin color. At a later date, Bulbulian2 tells of his use of latex and methyl methacrylate as materials in prosthetic reconstruction of the congenital or postoperative loss of the ear. Seeking also to replace lost anatomical parts, Heron3 and Bigelow4 used acrylic resin to advantage, while Clarke5 outlines his work with vulcanized latex in conjunction with oil-soluble dyes as coloring agents. In 1955 Ackerman6 and Fonder7 published work telling of the use of vinyl plastics and self-curing acrylic resin, respectively. While the previously reported work dealt with both resilient and hard substances to achieve their results, the research herein recorded combines the physical and chemical features of both types.