Member pics

[Shakabutt]

Wau ,and what exactlly do you do to the stiffs ?

[Bether6074]

^^You know, all I'd have to do is look at that lab coat and think for a minute and I'd probably pass out.

[CX]

Wau ,and what exactlly do you do to the stiffs ?

She cuts them open and looks at their insides to learn how they work. What do you think she does?

[Shakabutt]

Thats nice ,that means she's got a pretty strong stomach

[Distracted]

I tried really hard to like pathology. The hours are great and you don't get any back talk from the patients. Unfortunately, I don't have a very strong stomach and dead babies give me nightmares.

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

I tried really hard to like pathology. The hours are great and you don't get any back talk from the patients.

Are you sure about that!?

I worked a summer in my distant youth at an undertakers', so I've seen my fair share of stiffs!

[justTripn]

T'Sara, the next star parties that I can make are August 17 and 18. However we better have a back-up plan if you come on out! Half the time we get clouded out. But we'd love to see you again. You're welcome any time.

Emberchyld, I'm confused. I thought you were an engineer. Are you an engineer in the medical field?

[Emberchyld]

Emberchyld, I'm confused. I thought you were an engineer. Are you an engineer in the medical field?

Yup,I design the instruments and implants (depending on the project) used in spinal surgery. Did a few things for hips, knees, etc, when I first started, but I've been in the spinal field for the past 5 years.

In labs, we ask the surgeons (or we ourselves) test the implants and instruments-- see how they fit the anatomy, how easy (or hard) they are to implant, even down to instrument lengths or handles. Things react differently in the "real world" than in our simulations, so this is one of the last steps before finalizing designs (or one of the first steps before starting. Sometimes, our job is just to observe and see where the procedure can be improved).

I also get to do mechanical testing (aka breaking stuff) back at the office/at test labs, and go to actual surgeries. But most of my time is spent at my desk on the computer or on the phone with our manufacturing and quality teams.

And I don't think of it as a strong stomach, because the first time bothered me, too. What I had to remind myself is that someone very kindly gave science/medicine their body so that we can learn and hopefully improve someone's life because of what we learn. It's kind-of humbling, since I don't know if I could do that.

[TSara]

Sorry if this is OT, But I've always wondered what do you all do with the bodies after you all are done with them.

Do you cremate the remains and give them back to the family of the deceased?

I meant to ask you this last weekend.....but I forgot as soon as Conner came over to the table.

[Emberchyld]

Sorry if this is OT, But I've always wondered what do you all do with the bodies after you all are done with them.

Do you cremate the remains and give them back to the family of the deceased?

I meant to ask you this last weekend.....but I forgot as soon as Conner came over to the table.

I don't handle the bodies-- usually they are handled by universities or non profit anatomical suppliers. We just order the bodies (and pay a service fee) and someone tests the body for HIV/Hepatitis, delivers the body, sometimes helps us set it up (we cover everything not being worked on), and takes it away.

Essentially, they body is stored and used until it can no longer be used, and they then cremate. The ashes usually don't go back to the family because it does get divided up and used for multiple labs so that the person's donation is not wasted in any way.

There's a great book called Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers that does a good job of explaining what happens.

Sorry for any grossness, all!

[evcake]

Wow. All I do is help people find out stuff.

[Bether6074]

Don't feel bad. I push buttons for a living.

[Emberchyld]

Wow. All I do is help people find out stuff.

Don't feel bad. I push buttons for a living.

It sounds cooler than it really is. I've been on the same project for 2 years now, and most of the time is spent redrawing the same things over and over and over again to make it easier to manufacture or inspect or to meet the surgeons' needs better. And answer e-mails.

[evcake]

Still, good karma.

[TSara]

I recently went home to Florida for a friends wedding….while I was there I took tons of pictures AND took my youngest sister to Disney!











Siesta Key, Sarasota Florida



Youngest sister- Sarah on Siesta Key beach


Sarah and I at Disney!


Me goofing off!


Sarah, all wet after Splash Mountain!





Yo ho yo ho a pirates life for us!







Main Street Disney!


Highland dance pose…..I kinda lost my footing as she took my picture!






Pictures of Home-Venice Beach Venice Florida a view from the South Jetty.





Me on a rock- South Jetty Venice Florida