Development of artificial skin for cadaver restoration using silicone materials - Aiming to improve grief care and autopsy rates

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K10382
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 58010:Medical management and medical sociology-related
• Research Institution: Kyorin University
• Principal Investigator: Yoshida Masaki 杏林大学, 医学部, 助教 (80445197)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 高篠 智 杏林大学, 医学部, 講師 (50365201)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 遺体修復 / 人工皮膚 / シリコン / 遺体衛生保全 / グリーフケア

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In order to develop a versatile silicon artificial skin for cadaver restoration, we measured the skin color of autopsied cadavers using a spectrophotometer and we collected the skin data and analyzed it. Four areas were selected for measurement: the forehead and cheeks of the face, which are easily seen by the bereaved family members; the chest and abdomen, which tend to have a large area to be restored due to damage or sample collection during autopsy; and the head, which has a large area to be repaired. We analyzed the color data for each of these sites to establish three reference colors (fair, standard, and dark) for the artificial skin. We analyzed 168 cases using a statistical method (simple linear regression), and finally found that all three standard colors unified for the facial area could be set as the standard artificial skin color for the whole body.

Free Research Field

法医学、歯科的個人識別、遺体修復

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまで遺体の皮膚色の平均値および人工皮膚作成の試みに関する先行研究は皆無である。法医解剖後の遺体に対して適切な修復処置を施すことは、遺体衛生保全のみならず、その尊厳を遵守し遺族の悲嘆を緩和するために極めて重要である。本研究の成果により、遺族および社会の法医解剖に対する抵抗感を軽減し、ひいては剖検率の向上、公衆衛生への寄与が期待できる。