NCJ Number
226888
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 54 Issue: 3 Dated: May 2009 Pages: 540-545
Date Published
May 2009
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This study confirmed that 3D optical digitizing technology is a critical tool in capturing and analyzing wound morphology in the medico-legal context, even on “difficult” substrates such as cut marks and saw marks on bone.
Abstract
The technology of 3D optical digitizing greatly improves imaging for the study of lesions, particularly on soft tissues. A three-dimensional model of a lesion can be stored for years, shared, and examined. The model can be analyzed to produce information on the direction, strength, and speed of trauma and can provide evidence regarding the tool that may have caused the lesion. The model also assists in comparing the tool and the lesion shape. Since the instrument is compact, rugged, portable, and capable of fast processing, it can be used directly at the crime scene. This early documentation is important, since an autopsy may not be performed until hours or days later, which means a change in soft tissue appearance has inevitably occurred. The 3D image-acquiring technology has been recently used in body reconstruction and modeling in virtopsy procedure; it involves the creation of a body image in a virtual 3D space by merging information by computed tomography (CT) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) with a skin surface analysis by photogrammetry or 3D optical digitizer. The current study shows the usefulness of this well-known method (3D optics) in three forensic scenarios: a car accident that caused different abrasions on lower limbs; the death of a woman after blunt force applied with a metal rod on the head; and the analysis of a femur with several knife and saw marks. The lesions in these cases were gauged with the Vivid 910 digitizer, and 3D models were created. 8 figures and 29 references