Industrial robot hones virtual autopsies
The researchers are already pioneers of virtual autopsies, or “virtopsies”, which use non-invasive imaging of a body inside and out rather than the radical post-mortem surgery typically used to determine cause of death.
Now they are using a robot, dubbed Virtobot, to carry out parts of that process, making it more reliable – and standardised.
Their virtopsies combine 3D imaging of a body’s surface with a CT scan of its interior anatomy. The result is a faithful, high-resolution virtual double of the corpse (see diagram). This double can be used to accurately determine what killed someone. And it’s a more tactful approach: only needle biopsies are used to sample tissues, leaving a body essentially undamaged.
“Currently, organs are taken out and sliced for analysis of tumours and lesions, but if something is overlooked you have no chance of seeing it again,” says team member Lars Ebert. “All you have afterwards is a huge pile of organ slices.”
Mmmmm. Organ slices …
A high res CT scan creates a storage headache. If you want information on bones and bullets, CT is fine. If you want to see tumours, you may well need MRI.
Oh yeah, and you can render a really nice surface image, based on CT data alone. With live people, this tends to look a bit wibbly, as they breath. With compliant subjects that keep still, you will get really nice ones.