ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 6

Multiple-Probe Thermography for Estimating the Postmortem Interval: I. Continuous Monitoring and Data Analysis of Brain, Liver, Rectal and Environmental Temperatures in 117 Forensic Cases
Land, DD
Senior lecturer, University of Glasgow,

Worster, DM
Senior computer advisor, University of Glasgow,

Al-Alousi, LM
Senior lecturer and consultant forensic pathologist, senior lecturer (Forensic Toxicology), University of Glasgow,

Anderson, RA
Senior lecturer and consultant forensic pathologist, senior lecturer (Forensic Toxicology), University of Glasgow,

(Received 23 November 1999; accepted 29 May 2000)

Abstract

One hundred seventeen forensic postmortem cases have been studied under controlled conditions. In each case, temperatures of the brain, liver, rectum, and the environment were monitored over a period beginning shortly after death and ending up to 60 h postmortem. The four temperature measurements were recorded every 5 to 10 min using the Microwave Thermography System. Rectal and environmental temperatures were measured by electrical thermocouples while brain and liver temperatures were measured using microwave probes. Data acquisition, analogue-to-digital conversion (ADC), and data processing were provided by a microcomputer. The ADC technique is described and its problems are discussed. The data were then transferred to a mainframe computer for extensive curve-fitting and statistical analysis. The microcomputer-based ADC and data logging and acquisition were found to be accurate, fast, easy to implement, and useful for the field. The postmortem rate of human body cooling was found to be adequately represented by triple-exponential equations.

Keywords:
forensic science, forensic pathology, forensic medicine, postmortem cooling, time of death, postmortem interval, microwave thermograph, curve fitting

Paper ID: JFS14964J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS14964J
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