Stabbing the void – CT and MRI analysis of stabbing wounds with the aid of 3D-printed knives

IF 0.9 Q4 RADIOLOGY, NUCLEAR MEDICINE & MEDICAL IMAGING

Forensic Imaging Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2026-05-14 DOI:10.1016/j.fri.2026.200782

Viktor Soma Poór , Szilvia Nagy , Sándor Szukits , Gábor Simon

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Forensic radiology can provide substantial help for evaluating homicide cases. For example, a CT scan can easily reveal the number and position of projectiles in the cadaver of a shooting victim prior to the autopsy, offering indispensable aid for the forensic pathologist. However, in the case of knife stabbings, the wound channels might not clearly be depicted on CT or MRI scans.

Earlier, we demonstrated the feasibility of using 3D-printed knives in the evaluation of injuries during autopsy. In this study, we aimed to test its potential in a radiological setting.

Methods

A kitchen knife was scanned, modelled and printed with a 3D printer. To evaluate the effect of different printing materials, apart from the most common plastic filament (PLA, polylactic acid), special infused (steel, cementum, gypsum) filaments were also used for printing. Pork loins were stabbed with a kitchen knife at multiple locations, then the replica blades were inserted. CT and MRI scans were obtained.

Results

Most of the native wound channels were undetectable in the muscle tissue on the CT and MRI scans. The inserted 3D-printed blades were rendered clearly in the CT scans and appeared as void spaces on the MRI. The imaging of infused plastic blades did not differ from that of regular PLA. The only exception was the steel-infused print, which produced the artefacts of metal objects in the CT scans.

Conclusions

The use of 3D-printed blades benefited the analysis of wound channels. Measuring the depth and direction of the injury was improved. Scanning, modeling, and printing of a seized knife can be achieved in approximately 40 minutes, with a material cost of less than € 1. In the case of an unknown weapon, a set of dummy blades might be employed.

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刺入空洞——3d打印刀具辅助刺入伤口的CT和MRI分析

法医放射学可以为评估杀人案件提供实质性的帮助。例如，CT扫描可以在尸检前很容易地显示出枪击受害者尸体上的弹丸数量和位置，为法医病理学家提供了不可或缺的帮助。然而，在刀刺伤的情况下，在CT或MRI扫描上可能无法清楚地描绘伤口通道。早些时候，我们演示了在尸检过程中使用3d打印刀具评估损伤的可行性。在这项研究中，我们旨在测试其在放射学环境中的潜力。法医放射学可以为评估杀人案件提供实质性的帮助。例如，CT扫描可以在尸检前很容易地显示出枪击受害者尸体上的弹丸数量和位置，为法医病理学家提供了不可或缺的帮助。然而，在刀刺伤的情况下，在CT或MRI扫描上可能无法清楚地描绘伤口通道。早些时候，我们演示了在尸检过程中使用3d打印刀具评估损伤的可行性。在这项研究中，我们旨在测试其在放射学环境中的潜力。方法利用3D打印机对菜刀进行扫描、建模和打印。为了评估不同打印材料的效果，除了最常见的塑料长丝（PLA，聚乳酸）外，还使用了特殊的注入（钢，水泥，石膏）长丝进行打印。猪里脊肉被菜刀在多个地方刺伤，然后插入假刀片。进行CT和MRI扫描。一把菜刀被扫描、建模并用3D打印机打印出来。为了评估不同打印材料的效果，除了最常见的塑料长丝（PLA，聚乳酸）外，还使用了特殊的注入（钢，水泥，石膏）长丝进行打印。猪里脊肉被菜刀在多个地方刺伤，然后插入假刀片。进行CT和MRI扫描。结果在肌肉组织的CT和MRI扫描中，大多数伤口通道未被检测到。插入的3d打印叶片在CT扫描中呈现清晰，在MRI上显示为空隙。注入塑料叶片的成像与常规PLA没有区别。唯一的例外是注入了钢铁的指纹，它在CT扫描中产生了金属物体的人工制品。在CT和MRI扫描中，肌肉组织中无法检测到大多数天然伤口通道。插入的3d打印叶片在CT扫描中呈现清晰，在MRI上显示为空隙。注入塑料叶片的成像与常规PLA没有区别。唯一的例外是注入了钢铁的指纹，它在CT扫描中产生了金属物体的人工制品。结论3d打印刀片的使用有利于伤口通道的分析。测量损伤的深度和方向得到了改进。扫描、建模和打印一把被没收的刀可以在大约40分钟内实现，材料成本不到1欧元。在不明武器的情况下，可能会使用一组假刀片。使用3d打印叶片有利于伤口通道的分析。测量损伤的深度和方向得到了改进。扫描、建模和打印一把被没收的刀可以在大约40分钟内实现，材料成本不到1欧元。在不明武器的情况下，可能会使用一组假刀片。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Forensic Imaging RADIOLOGY, NUCLEAR MEDICINE & MEDICAL IMAGING-

CiteScore

2.20

自引率

27.30%

发文量