Novel Portable Device for Post Mortem Interval Estimation Using Vitreous Humor Analysis
<b>Background:</b> Accurately determining the post mortem interval (PMI) is critical in forensic investigations to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to and following death. Traditional methods (e.g., observing livor mortis, rigor mortis, and using temperature-based models) ha...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Forensic Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6756/5/2/18 |
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| author | Louise Lijcklama à Nijeholt Michael Fleermann Micky Breukers Jaap Knotter Steven Staal Brigitte Bruijns |
| author_facet | Louise Lijcklama à Nijeholt Michael Fleermann Micky Breukers Jaap Knotter Steven Staal Brigitte Bruijns |
| author_sort | Louise Lijcklama à Nijeholt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background:</b> Accurately determining the post mortem interval (PMI) is critical in forensic investigations to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to and following death. Traditional methods (e.g., observing livor mortis, rigor mortis, and using temperature-based models) have limitations due to their empirical nature and susceptibility to environmental variables. The objective of this study was to assess the potential of a novel portable device, the Fisic Medimate™ system, for estimating PMI through the analysis of the potassium/sodium (K+/Na+) ratio in vitreous humor. <b>Method:</b> Vitreous humor samples were collected from pigs at various intervals up to 44.5 hours post-mortem. These samples were analyzed using the Fisic Medimate™ system to determine the K+/Na+ ratio. The analysis was conducted at different time points to establish a relationship between the K+/Na+ ratio and PMI. <b>Results:</b> The results indicated a log-linear relationship between the K+/Na+ ratio and PMI for periods up to 31 hours, with normal residuals. This relationship was observed across all samples, suggesting that the method provides reliable and consistent data. <b>Conclusions:</b> This method offers a rapid and portable solution for PMI determination, providing valuable data within minutes directly at the crime scene. While these findings suggest potential for on-site forensic applications, further validation under real-world conditions is required to confirm its broader applicability. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e1d7cd62d0614da183148e6fb31ebb3a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-6756 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Forensic Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-e1d7cd62d0614da183148e6fb31ebb3a2025-08-20T03:27:25ZengMDPI AGForensic Sciences2673-67562025-04-01521810.3390/forensicsci5020018Novel Portable Device for Post Mortem Interval Estimation Using Vitreous Humor AnalysisLouise Lijcklama à Nijeholt0Michael Fleermann1Micky Breukers2Jaap Knotter3Steven Staal4Brigitte Bruijns5Technologies for Criminal Investigations, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, M.H. Tromplaan 28, 7513 AB Enschede, The NetherlandsFaculty Life Science Engineering and Design (LED), Saxion University of Applied Sciences, M.H. Tromplaan 28, 7513 AB Enschede, The NetherlandsFaculty Life Science Engineering and Design (LED), Saxion University of Applied Sciences, M.H. Tromplaan 28, 7513 AB Enschede, The NetherlandsTechnologies for Criminal Investigations, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, M.H. Tromplaan 28, 7513 AB Enschede, The NetherlandsFisic BV, High Tech Factory, De Veldmaat 17, 7522 NM Enschede, The NetherlandsTechnologies for Criminal Investigations, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, M.H. Tromplaan 28, 7513 AB Enschede, The Netherlands<b>Background:</b> Accurately determining the post mortem interval (PMI) is critical in forensic investigations to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to and following death. Traditional methods (e.g., observing livor mortis, rigor mortis, and using temperature-based models) have limitations due to their empirical nature and susceptibility to environmental variables. The objective of this study was to assess the potential of a novel portable device, the Fisic Medimate™ system, for estimating PMI through the analysis of the potassium/sodium (K+/Na+) ratio in vitreous humor. <b>Method:</b> Vitreous humor samples were collected from pigs at various intervals up to 44.5 hours post-mortem. These samples were analyzed using the Fisic Medimate™ system to determine the K+/Na+ ratio. The analysis was conducted at different time points to establish a relationship between the K+/Na+ ratio and PMI. <b>Results:</b> The results indicated a log-linear relationship between the K+/Na+ ratio and PMI for periods up to 31 hours, with normal residuals. This relationship was observed across all samples, suggesting that the method provides reliable and consistent data. <b>Conclusions:</b> This method offers a rapid and portable solution for PMI determination, providing valuable data within minutes directly at the crime scene. While these findings suggest potential for on-site forensic applications, further validation under real-world conditions is required to confirm its broader applicability.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6756/5/2/18post mortem intervalforensic investigationvitreous humorpotassium/sodium ratioportable devicelog-linear relationship |
| spellingShingle | Louise Lijcklama à Nijeholt Michael Fleermann Micky Breukers Jaap Knotter Steven Staal Brigitte Bruijns Novel Portable Device for Post Mortem Interval Estimation Using Vitreous Humor Analysis Forensic Sciences post mortem interval forensic investigation vitreous humor potassium/sodium ratio portable device log-linear relationship |
| title | Novel Portable Device for Post Mortem Interval Estimation Using Vitreous Humor Analysis |
| title_full | Novel Portable Device for Post Mortem Interval Estimation Using Vitreous Humor Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Novel Portable Device for Post Mortem Interval Estimation Using Vitreous Humor Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Novel Portable Device for Post Mortem Interval Estimation Using Vitreous Humor Analysis |
| title_short | Novel Portable Device for Post Mortem Interval Estimation Using Vitreous Humor Analysis |
| title_sort | novel portable device for post mortem interval estimation using vitreous humor analysis |
| topic | post mortem interval forensic investigation vitreous humor potassium/sodium ratio portable device log-linear relationship |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6756/5/2/18 |
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