Colleen Snyder
Abstract
Vacuum splints have been used in the medical field to temporarily stabilize injured extremities and position patients for treatments. This tip explores how conservators and other museum professionals have adapted this tool for stabilizing cultural heritage objects. Vacuum splints offer an affordable and easy way of securing objects for transport, sampling, treatment, imaging, and other research endeavors. The wide range of sizes and types of vacuum splints and their adaptability to different types of materials and shapes makes this tool a must-have for cultural heritage professionals who work with three-dimensional objects.