Corneal‐Smart Phone: A novel method to intelligently estimate postmortem interval

Abstract

The estimate of postmortem interval (PMI) is one of the most significant and complex research topics in the field of forensic medicine. Finding convenient, objective, and accurate methods to estimate PMI has always been a problem that urgently needs to be solved. Ocular tissues can be stored for a long time during corpse decomposition due to protection of eyelids, orbital wall, and outer dense connective tissue [1]. Therefore, the use of changes in postmortem ocular tissues in determining PMI has been increasingly recognized by scholars [2-4]. The postmortem corneal becomes cloudy and wrinkled over time due to the gradual degeneration and necrosis of corneal cells, irregular thickening of corneal stroma, and water evaporation [5].

Postmortem Interval Estimation With Corneal Endothelial Cell Density

“…Although there are studies on different parts of the eye and intraocular fluid to detect PMI, [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] studies on CECD are often performed to obtain information on corneal health in living beings or to evaluate whether corneas harvested for corneal transplantation are suitable for keratoplasty in the postmortem period. 4,11 For corneal transplantation to treat corneal blindness, a minimum of 2000 cells/mm 2 endothelial cells should be present.…”

Development and expert-evaluation of FORENSICA-android application for estimating post-mortem interval

“…It can be used for a specific computational model, including the models for hypothermia and hyperthermia. 1,3 But for this specific application, it was deemed too varied. Another criteria that was not used is mummification.…”