Dr/ Said Said ElshamaDr/ Said Said ElshamaForensic Medicine and Clinical ToxicologyForensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology

• Autopsy is a corner stone of forensic Autopsy is a corner stone of forensic medicine. medicine.

• Traditional Autopsy is invasive technique . Traditional Autopsy is invasive technique . • It is a postmortem exam of the victim by It is a postmortem exam of the victim by

incision. incision. • Now , there is an alternative approach of Now , there is an alternative approach of

postmortem examination by advanced postmortem examination by advanced radiographic techniques (CT and MRI). radiographic techniques (CT and MRI).

• This approach is called a virtual or This approach is called a virtual or bloodless autopsy.bloodless autopsy.

• The virtual autopsy is one of the greatest The virtual autopsy is one of the greatest advances in forensic medicine in the past advances in forensic medicine in the past years.years.

• It is non-invasive method.It is non-invasive method.

Virtopsy “Virtual Autopsy”Virtopsy “Virtual Autopsy”

- It is a combination of many topics under It is a combination of many topics under one scientific umbrella such as forensic one scientific umbrella such as forensic Medicine, Pathology, Radiology and Physics.Medicine, Pathology, Radiology and Physics.

- We can examine victims remotely in three We can examine victims remotely in three seconds using CT scanner and keep a seconds using CT scanner and keep a permanent record of wounds for a long time permanent record of wounds for a long time after decomposition of victim .after decomposition of victim .

- We can detect hidden clues .We can detect hidden clues .- We can detect new information about fatal We can detect new information about fatal

diseases which are difficult to discover in diseases which are difficult to discover in traditional autopsy. traditional autopsy.

- We can do the virtual autopsy many times . - We can do the virtual autopsy many times .

• We can make the skin completely transparent.We can make the skin completely transparent.• We can examine muscles ,bones and organs We can examine muscles ,bones and organs

forfor

the cause and manner of death.the cause and manner of death.• We can navigate inside the body layer by layer We can navigate inside the body layer by layer

inin

microscopic detail. microscopic detail. • We can use a virtual knife to take cross We can use a virtual knife to take cross

sections ofsections of

body.body.• It help us to understand diseases such asIt help us to understand diseases such as

Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis. Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis.

- The virtual autopsy table is a multi-touch The virtual autopsy table is a multi-touch screen to explore human body layer by screen to explore human body layer by layer using the high resolution MRI scan. layer using the high resolution MRI scan.

- It is based on a continuous interaction It is based on a continuous interaction between the forensic pathologist and the between the forensic pathologist and the radiologist .radiologist .

- It is also used to educate medical students It is also used to educate medical students about human anatomy without the need for about human anatomy without the need for cadavers. cadavers.

- It is used also for surgical planning.It is used also for surgical planning.- Medical teams can decide on the best Medical teams can decide on the best

surgical strategy for any surgical case surgical strategy for any surgical case before any operation.before any operation.

Advantage of Virtual Autopsy Advantage of Virtual Autopsy It is time saving It is time saving It respects the cadaver because the It respects the cadaver because the body remains are intact avoiding body remains are intact avoiding objections by family members.objections by family members.

It provides additional analysis.It provides additional analysis.It provides better view of fatal It provides better view of fatal injuries.injuries.

It determines the cause of the death It determines the cause of the death of a bad putrefied dead bodies.of a bad putrefied dead bodies.

Forensic Facial ReconstructionForensic Facial ReconstructionFacial reconstruction is art and investigating tool. Facial reconstruction is art and investigating tool. It is the process of recreating the face of unknown It is the process of recreating the face of unknown

individual.individual.It is a method for identification of skeleton of It is a method for identification of skeleton of

unknown victim after failure of traditional means of unknown victim after failure of traditional means of identification.identification.

Facial reconstruction gives the chance to reform face Facial reconstruction gives the chance to reform face of the victim by two techniques (Two dimensions or of the victim by two techniques (Two dimensions or Three dimensions reconstructions).Three dimensions reconstructions).

It is based on ante mortem photographs and skull It is based on ante mortem photographs and skull from skeletal remains or x ray of skull.from skeletal remains or x ray of skull.

Three dimensional print of skull can be performed Three dimensional print of skull can be performed from CT scan for a duplicate copy of the skull and from CT scan for a duplicate copy of the skull and mandible.mandible.

• Determination of shape of particular face Determination of shape of particular face depends on determination of tissue depth depends on determination of tissue depth markers of face of unknown by applying clay markers of face of unknown by applying clay to a human skull and glass eyes.to a human skull and glass eyes.

• Determination of proper tissue depth Determination of proper tissue depth depends on race, sex and age. depends on race, sex and age.

• These information provided by the Forensic These information provided by the Forensic Anthropologist and other professionals Anthropologist and other professionals according to geographic location of the according to geographic location of the deceased person.deceased person.

• Reconstruction is not a complete image of Reconstruction is not a complete image of the person, but it is an accurate the person, but it is an accurate representation.representation.

• This technique had a high success rate.This technique had a high success rate.• This method has been tried and proved over This method has been tried and proved over

the years.the years.

Advances of Biometric ToolsAdvances of Biometric Tools• Individual identification is still the most challenging Individual identification is still the most challenging

problem in forensic field.problem in forensic field.• Biometric techniques are used in identification.Biometric techniques are used in identification.• Identification of the victim can result from comparison Identification of the victim can result from comparison

of information collected during a forensic examination of information collected during a forensic examination with information of data base such as fingerprints.with information of data base such as fingerprints.

• Fingerprint is the oldest biometric technique. Fingerprint is the oldest biometric technique. • DNA print is the last modern biometric technique.DNA print is the last modern biometric technique.• In some cases, fingerprint is not available or mutilated. In some cases, fingerprint is not available or mutilated. • Now , Other forms of prints are also available such as Now , Other forms of prints are also available such as

retinal print, iris print, ear print, lip print and knee retinal print, iris print, ear print, lip print and knee print which are used as forensic tools of identification.print which are used as forensic tools of identification.

Retinal Scan Retinal Scan It is one of the biometric methods using the It is one of the biometric methods using the

eye for personal identification.eye for personal identification.The true target for this scan is the capillary The true target for this scan is the capillary

pattern in the retina. The process depends on pattern in the retina. The process depends on generation of retinal image using a light generation of retinal image using a light source.source.

These capillaries absorb light and can be seen These capillaries absorb light and can be seen with illumination.with illumination.

Retinal scan requires close contact of user Retinal scan requires close contact of user and scanner (1cm) without movement of the and scanner (1cm) without movement of the eye.eye.

The subject must focus on a little green light The subject must focus on a little green light and avoid blinking.and avoid blinking.

A low light is then transmitted through the eye A low light is then transmitted through the eye and the reflected image of the retinal capillary and the reflected image of the retinal capillary pattern is recorded by the computer.pattern is recorded by the computer.

An initial scan takes a minimum of five scans An initial scan takes a minimum of five scans and lasts approximately 45 seconds .and lasts approximately 45 seconds .

Scan is a map of the retina and used to identify Scan is a map of the retina and used to identify a match from the formats encoded in the a match from the formats encoded in the scanner's software. scanner's software.

Retinal patterns are fixed during a person's Retinal patterns are fixed during a person's life.life.

It was changed in case of diabetes, glaucoma, It was changed in case of diabetes, glaucoma, retinal degenerative disorders or cataracts. retinal degenerative disorders or cataracts.

Retinal scans are nearly 100% accurate.Retinal scans are nearly 100% accurate.

Iris Scan Iris Scan The colored part of the eye appears to be as The colored part of the eye appears to be as

fingerprint. fingerprint. The main advantage of the iris scan is the ability The main advantage of the iris scan is the ability

to perform it from a distance of up to three feet.to perform it from a distance of up to three feet.It has a short time (20 seconds) with It has a short time (20 seconds) with

identification requiring only two seconds.identification requiring only two seconds.Glasses and contact lenses do not interrupt with Glasses and contact lenses do not interrupt with

the scanning process and identification.the scanning process and identification.Retinal and iris scans offer high accuracy and Retinal and iris scans offer high accuracy and

the primary users of retinal scans are military the primary users of retinal scans are military and government facilities, such as CIA and NASA. and government facilities, such as CIA and NASA.

Ear PrintEar Print

Anatomy of ear is unique to each individualAnatomy of ear is unique to each individual and different.and different.The external ear has been used as a means The external ear has been used as a means ofof

identification.identification.Ear print is made by pressing the ear to anyEar print is made by pressing the ear to any surface. This pressure can be slight or surface. This pressure can be slight or great. great. 

Ear print found in any place such as door, Ear print found in any place such as door, wall, window where the person pressed his wall, window where the person pressed his ear to listen .ear to listen .

Knee PrintKnee Print It is a useful forensic identification tool. It is a useful forensic identification tool. knee print is characteristic ridges and knee print is characteristic ridges and

grooves ofgrooves of

skin of anterior surface of knee joint skin of anterior surface of knee joint (patellar(patellar

surface). surface). It has a considerable degree of variability It has a considerable degree of variability

amongamong

different individuals.different individuals.

shape of grooves-representing lines crossing down the lines

Lip PrintLip PrintThe study of lip print is called cheiloscopy. The study of lip print is called cheiloscopy. It is similar to fingerprint.It is similar to fingerprint.The external surface of lip has many elevations The external surface of lip has many elevations

and depressions forming a characteristic pattern and depressions forming a characteristic pattern called lip print called lip print

It is a several fissures and some other criss-cross It is a several fissures and some other criss-cross lines . lines .

These fissures and criss-cross lines are different in These fissures and criss-cross lines are different in different people and form a very good basis of different people and form a very good basis of identification. identification.

Thank youThank you