ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 July 1979
Page Count: 4

Application of the Tri-Ess Mini Metal Detector to Forensic Autopsies (or, How to Find the Elusive Projectile)
Wetli, CV
Associate medical examiner, Dade County Medical Examiner Office, Fla.

(Received 22 December 1978; accepted 13 January 1978)

Abstract

Locating and recovering projectiles and projectile fragments from cadavers can sometimes be difficult, frustrating, and time-consuming. Precisely locating a projectile by X-ray is usually not accomplished because of the difficulty in obtaining accurate oblique and lateral projections. The forensic pathologist is thus occasionally faced with a situation where the general location of a projectile is known but the track is lost or becomes inapparent during the course of dissection. Further X-rays are generally useless, and one must then embark on a lengthy and frequently mutilating dissection to locate and retrieve the projectile. In such autopsy situations, we have found the Tri-ess metal detector to be of definite help. This instrument was initially chosen because of its purported sensitivity, small size, and low cost.

Keywords:

Paper ID: JFS10884J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS10884J
ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.