A postmortem interval estimation by cranioencephalic thermometry at a single discrete decrease in ambient temperature
- Authors: Nedugov G.V.1
-
Affiliations:
- Samara State Medical University
- Issue: Vol 10, No 3 (2025)
- Pages: 218-223
- Section: Medical Informatics
- URL: https://journal-vniispk.ru/2500-1388/article/view/312152
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.35693/SIM624827
- ID: 312152
Cite item
Abstract
Aim – to develop an estimation method and a computer program for determining the postmortem interval (PMI) by cranioencephalic temperature (CT) of a corpse under conditions of cooling with a single discrete decrease in ambient temperature.
Material and methods. We performed an analytical and finite element modeling of CT dynamics at a single discrete decrease in ambient temperature.
Results. A mathematical model has been developed for determining the PMI and the uncertainty of its estimates at a single discrete decrease in the ambient temperature. The constants' values of the model equation and their variances were determined on the basis of finite element modeling of CT dynamics under the specified cooling conditions. The computational algorithm of the specified method for determining PMI and limitations of its use were implemented in the Warm Bodies DSC program written on C#.
Conclusion. We can recommend using the developed method and software in forensic medicine to determine the PMI at a single discrete decrease in ambient temperature.
Full Text
##article.viewOnOriginalSite##About the authors
German V. Nedugov
Samara State Medical University
Author for correspondence.
Email: nedugovh@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7380-3766
Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Associate professor, Head of the Department of Forensic Medicine
Russian Federation, SamaraReferences
- Hubig M, Muggenthaler H, Mall G. Confidence intervals in temperature-based death time determination. Leg Med (Tokyo). 2015;17(1):48-51. doi: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2014.08.002
- Schweitzer W, Thali MJ. Computationally approximated solution for the equation for Henssge's time of death estimation. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. 2019;19(1):201. doi: 10.1186/s12911-019-0920-y
- Potente S, Henneicke L, Schmidt P. Prism - A novel approach to dead body cooling and its parameters. Forensic Sci Int. 2021;325:110870. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.110870
- Laplace K, Baccino E, Peyron PA. Estimation of the time since death based on body cooling: a comparative study of four temperature-based methods. Int J Legal Med. 2021;135(6):2479-2487. doi: 10.1007/s00414-021-02635-7
- Wei T, Abraham J, Wang Y. Comment on the Marshall-Hoare-Henssge model for estimating the time since death. J Forensic Sci. 2023;68(2):676-681. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.15218
- Marshall TK, Hoare FE. Estimating the time of death. The rectal cooling after death and its mathematical expression. J Forensic Sci. 1962;7(1):56-81.
- Henssge C. Death time estimation in case work. I. The rectal temperature time of death nomogram. Forensic Sci Int. 1988;38(3-4):209-236. doi: 10.1016/0379-0738(88)90168-5
- Henssge C. Rectal temperature time of death nomogram: dependence of corrective factors on the body weight under stronger thermic insulation conditions. Forensic Sci Int. 1992;54(1):51-66. doi: 10.1016/0379-0738(92)90080-G
- Althaus L, Henssge C. Rectal temperature time of death nomogram: sudden change of ambient temperature. Forensic Sci Int. 1999;99(3):171-178. doi: 10.1016/s0379-0738(98)00188-1
- Bisegna P, Henssge C, Althaus L, Giusti G. Estimation of the time since death: sudden increase of ambient temperature. Forensic Sci Int. 2008;176(2-3):196-199. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2007.09.007
- Nedugov GV. Double exponential model of corpse cooling under conditions of linearly varying ambient temperature. Russian Journal of Forensic Medicine. 2021;7(4):19-28. (In Russ.). [Недугов Г.В. Двойная экспоненциальная модель охлаждения трупа в условиях линейно изменяющейся внешней температуры. Судебная медицина. 2021;7(4):19-28]. doi: 10.17816/fm429
- Nedugov GV. New computer technologies to determine postmortem interval by the Henssge method. Russian Journal of Forensic Medicine. 2021;7(3):152-158. (In Russ.). [Недугов Г.В. Новые компьютерные технологии определения давности наступления смерти по методу Henssge. Судебная медицина. 2021;7(3):152-158]. doi: 10.17816/fm406
- Henssge C, Madea B. Estimation of the time since death in the early post-mortem period. Forensic Sci Int. 2004;144(2-3):167-75. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2004.04.051
- Nedugov GV. Estimation of the postmortem interval by the method of finite element modeling of postmortem heat transfer in human head. Science & Innovations in Medicine. 2022;7(3):179-185. [Недугов Г.В. Оценка давности наступления смерти методом конечно-элементного моделирования посмертного теплообмена головы. Наука и инновации в медицине. 2022;7(3):179-185]. doi: 10.35693/2500-1388-2022-7-3-179-185
- Schenkl S, Muggenthaler H, Hubig M, et al. Automatic CT-based finite element model generation for temperature-based death time estimation: feasibility study and sensitivity analysis. Int J Legal Med. 2017;131(3):699-712. doi: 10.1007/s00414-016-1523-0
- Subramaniam JS, Hubig M, Muggenthaler H, et al. Sensitivity of temperature-based time since death estimation on measurement location. Int J Legal Med. 2023;137(6):1815-1837. doi: 10.1007/s00414-023-03040-y
- Ullrich J, Weiser M, Shanmugam Subramaniam J, et al. The impact of anatomy variation on temperature based time of death estimation. Int J Legal Med. 2023;137(5):1615-1627. doi: 10.1007/s00414-023-03026-w
Supplementary files
