A novel approach to age determination of traumatic injuries by reflectance spectroscopy.

摘要: Background and Objectives Aging of injuries on a victim's body is an important aspect forensic medicine. Currently, visual assessment colorimetry based empirical criteria are the most common techniques for this task, although results uncertain. A trauma causing localized vessel damage will rapidly result in pool blood subcutaneous tissues. The color bruise is, however, primarily due to hemoglobin transport into dermis secondarily its breakdown products. This analyzed terms diffusion followed by clearance macrophage activity, lymphatic flow, conversion products such as bilirubin. caused change with time, changes can be recorded using reflectance spectroscopy. aim study was develop mathematical model describe within bruised skin, use method retrieve age from measured skin reflectance. Study Design/Materials Methods An analytic established development fading color. model, which Darcy's law convection flow Fick's diffusion, describes distribution hematoma function time after injury. initial phase injury described convective extravascular tissues, further whole erythrocytes dermis. Experimental data were used verify model. Reflection spectra 400–850 nm wavelength range collected normal integrating sphere setup. subjects adult patients admitted Department cardiothoracic surgery, St. Olav's Hospital, Trondheim, Norway. hematomas external trauma, examinations, or surgery. Results Preliminary show that simulated agrees well. predicts accuracy approximately 1 day. depends precise information thickness injured area. quality estimates thus enhanced if reliable measure concurrently reflection measurement. Conclusions The good implemented provides theoretical basis developing apparatus determine Lasers Surg. Med. 38:277–289, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.