IMMEDIATE REDUCTION OF BONE AEROSOL DURING AUTOPSIES USING AUTOPSY SAW WITH AUTOMATIC VACUUM

Abstract

Particulate matter (PM) emitted during autopsies can serve as a vector for numerous viruses or bacteria and can lead to infections. Reducing the exposure of those particles in indoor working environments is, therefore, an important issue. Even short-term exposures with high concentrations have a harmful potential and can lead to an increase in cardiovascular and respiratory mortality. The aerosol of PM needs to be cleaned by vacuuming during and after the autopsies process. An autopsy machine is a single-user machine. The most common practice in Malaysia, such as observed in Hospital Besar Ipoh, Perak is to use an autopsy saw and vacuum machine separately with two staff members simultaneously cutting and vacuuming. There are autopsy saws that came with a vacuum attachment, but the vacuum still needs to be operated manually. This project's purpose is to develop and implement modern autopsy saw prototypes that meet the needs of forensic pathologists and other medical examiners. This autopsy saw is equipped with an automatic vacuuming function that can be singlehandedly operated. The design is ergonomic and specially crafted for easier cleaning of the machine's tanks after the autopsy procedure. Tested in the simulation of the autopsy process, the machine instantly reduces the number of particulate matter PM2.5 during the cutting process.