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93 Z. Rechtsmedizin 1 (1984)

handle is hein.journals/injlegame93 and id is 1 raw text is: Zeitschrift fur
Z Rechtsmed (1984) 93:1-22                         Rechtsmedizin
© Springer-Verlag 1984
Originalarbeiten / Original Works
Todeszeitbestimmung
durch Messung der zentralen Hirntemperatur*
C.HenBge1, E.-R.Beckmann2, F. Wischhusen2 und B.Brinkmannt
1Institut fur Rechtsmedizin der Universitat Munster, von-Esmarch-StraBe 86, D-4400 Munster,
Bundesrepublik Deutschland
2Institut fur Rechtsmedizin der Universitat Hamburg, Butenfeld 34, D-2000 Hamburg 54,
Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Determination of Time of Death by Measuring Central Brain Temperature
Summary. The central brain temperature was recorded in 53 human corpses,
stored at constant ambient temperatures between 100 and 30 C. The measure-
ments were started on average 1.6h post mortem and continued for 8-50h.
The sigmoidal shape of the temperature curves fitted the mathematical model
of Marshall and Hoare (1962). This model provides a precise description of
the temperature curves. For 44 corpses, studied at temperatures between 100
and 25 C, the time of death was calculated using fixed values for the adapta-
tion parameters of the model. The margins of error for the 95% tolerance
limit were ± 1.5h up to 6.5h post mortem, 2.5h between 6.5 and 10.5h post
mortem and ±3.5 h between 10.5 and 13.5 h post mortem. For the recommen-
ded practical application a brain temperature-time of death nomogram is
presented. We found that the rate of cooling was influenced by the amount of
hair. Furthermore, it has been argued that the study method could be
improved further. In consequence, we expect the central brain temperature
to be even more accurate in the calculation of the time of death than has been
discussed and shown on the basis of the present material.
Key words: Computation of time of death, brain cooling -Brain temperature-
time of death nomogram
Zusammenfassung. Von 53 in relativ konstanter Umgebungstemperatur
zwischen 100 und 30°C gelagerten Leichen wurde die Temperatur im Zentrum
des Gehirns registriert. Die Messungen wurden im Mittel 1,6h post mortem
begonnen. Die MeBdauer betrug zwischen 8 und 50 Stunden. Die sigmoida-
len Abkuhlkurven wurden mit dem von Marshall und Hoare (1962) angege-
benen Modell mathematisch beschrieben. Das Modell ist fur eine prazise
Beschreibung der Abkuhlkurven geeignet. Fur die 44 Untersuchungen im
* Herrn Prof. Dr. O. Gruner zum 65. Geburtstag gewidmet
Sonderdruckanfragen an: Prof. Dr. B. Brinkmann (Adresse siehe oben)

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