Medical examiners, or M.E. for short, are certified professionals with training or experience in forensic pathology. They’re called upon to perform investigations using several skilled techniques to ascertain the cause of deaths that are deemed accidental or the result of homicide, suicide, contagious diseases, or other case-specific circumstances.
In this article, we’ll examine the specialized tools and equipment used by M.E.s in order to investigate and determine the cause of death.
What is a Medical Examiner?
A medical examiner is a person with a medical degree, usually trained in forensic pathology, certified by the American Board of Pathology, and appointed in the community they serve.
They’re called in by the attending doctor, law enforcement, insurance agencies, and others to perform death investigations in the case of accidental death, homicide, or suicide, as well as things like deaths of people in custody, drug-related deaths, and in the case of contagious diseases or other threats to public health.
What Does a Medical Examiner Do?
Medical examiners perform a variety of procedures during a death investigation. They’re responsible for performing autopsies, including an external examination of the body, which usually involves digital X-rays to examine the bones and soft tissues in more detail. Then, they conduct a physical dissection and internal examination of the body’s organs and tissues, including histology, which is the microscopic examination of bodily fluids or tissues.
Other things an M.E. does are examine the medical records of the deceased to look for possible clues into their death, conduct toxicological investigations, and interpret lab results. In the case of unusual or criminally related deaths, they may also travel to the scene of death as part of their investigation or collect biological specimens from living people involved or suspected of being involved in the death.
Then, the M.E. documents all of the evidence they accumulated. They determine a cause of death and provide documentation outlining the cause so that it can be used to inform law enforcement, insurance investigators, and the families of the deceased.
What Type of Equipment Does a Medical Examiner Use?
All post-mortem investigations require a range of essential tools, strict adherence to procedures and precautions, and personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure thorough, accurate, and safe results.
Medical Autopsy Table
While a standard stainless steel surgical table can be used, M.E.s often use specialized autopsy tables that may be mobile or stationary, have raised edges to retain fluids, built-in sinks, and be on a slant to allow fluids to drain.
PPE Protective Garments
All M.E.s must wear basic PPE to protect themselves and the deceased from cross-contamination. This generally includes a surgical scrub suit and cap, an impervious gown with full sleeve coverage, shoe covers, a face shield or other form of eye and face protection, and nitrile, latex, or vinyl surgical gloves.
Respiratory Protection
A powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) with particulate filters is recommended for procedures that generate air-borne particles, such as oscillating saws.
PPE For Dealing With Contagious Diseases
Special double-layered surgical gloves with a layer of cut-proof synthetic mesh are required for handling contagious diseases rather than nitrile or latex gloves. A NIOSH-approved particulate respirator with N95 filters or higher is also required.
Microscopes
Histological examinations of tissues and bodily fluids require microscopes and their associated slides, immersion oils, and stains.
Morgue Digital X-Ray Equipment
Specialized digital X-ray equipment for morgues is essential for medical examiners to examine details of the bones and soft tissues that cannot be observed during autopsies or histological examinations.
Specimen Tubes For Toxicology
M.E.s require specimen tubes to collect samples of bodily fluids or tissues to perform toxicological analysis. They often send these away to a laboratory to obtain results, but they occasionally have in-house lab equipment to perform on-site tests.
Scalpel
Scalpels, similar to surgical scalpels but usually longer, are used to cut deeply into the tissues during an autopsy.
Scissors
Scissors are used to cut through hollow organs like the stomach and vessels. They often have a blunt tip to reduce the risk of injury, as the user must hold tissues in one hand while cutting with the other.
Enterotome
An enterotome is a special type of scissors used to open the intestines.
Bone Saw
Since there are 206 bones in the human body, a bone saw is essential for cutting through bones or skulls to examine the organs or tissues they protect. Bone saws are often hand tools, but sometimes powered saws are used to perform precision cuts. A bone dust vacuum is also recommended when using a power saw to reduce the risk of airborne contaminants.
Stryker Saw
A Stryker saw is an electric saw specifically used to cut through the skull to remove the brain.
Bread Knife
A high-quality bread knife is often used to shave slices off organs for better visual examinations.
Rib Shears
Rib shears are a special type of shears designed to cut through the ribs. Many find these more manageable than powered saws for cutting ribs.
Hammer With Hook
A hammer with a hook is a specialized tool designed to easily pull the cap off the skull, allowing direct access to the brain.
Skull Chisel
The skull chisel is another specialized tool that’s used to help pry the skull cap off.
Toothed Forceps
Toothed forceps are heavy-duty forceps with teeth on their edges used to pick up heavy organs. They allow for better gripping than standard surgical forceps, which are rarely used interchangeably.
Hagedorn Needle
The Hagedorn needle is a heavy needle used at the end of the autopsy to sew the body back up after the examination is complete.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Technology Do Medical Examiners Use?
Medical examiners use a wide range of technology, including special autopsy tables and personal protective equipment (gowns, gloves, face shields, etc). They also use microscopes, digital X-ray equipment, specimen tubes, bone saws, scalpels, Stryker saws, scissors, enterotomes, bread knives, rib shears, hammers with hooks, skull chisels, toothed forceps, and Hagedorn needles.
Final Thoughts
Medical examiners require a wide range of equipment to perform investigations into unusual deaths, including accidental deaths, suicide, homicides, contagious diseases, and other case-specific circumstances.
Some of the main tools they require include autopsy tables, protective garments, face shields, and morgue digital X-ray equipment. Get in touch with Maven Imaging today for further information and high-quality digital X-ray equipment.
