The doctor invented a liquid plastic process that preserves bodies. He has put many of them on display in museum exhibits that show them in poses like playing poker or throwing a football.
One such exhibit opened Jan. 18 at the Milwaukee Public Museum and has had 100,000 paid visitors so far, Dan Finley, president of the nonprofit company that operates the museum, told The Associated Press.
"It's the biggest exhibition we've ever done," he said. "The best attended."
Finley said every specimen in his exhibit was there with informed consent. He said it was his understanding that 8,000 people have volunteered to have their bodies - which are skinned for the exhibit - used in future "Body Worlds" shows.
Meanwhile, the company that is running a similar exhibit nationwide called "Bodies ... Revealed" is under investigation by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, to determine where the bodies and body parts came from. Cuomo spokesman Steven Cohen confirms that subpoenas have been issued to the company but the office has drawn no conclusions.
The exhibit by Premier Exhibitions Inc. of Atlanta is now in Cincinnati.
A Premier spokeswoman didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Premier Exhibitions told ABC News it would cooperate fully.
