STATE-OF-THE-ART DIGITAL AUTOPSY FACILITY OPENS IN BRADFORD
- Revolutionary, non-invasive and compassionate digital post mortem technique
- Huge potential benefits for bereaved families, examiners and investigators
- Full 3D digital body reconstruction
- Second UK facility in a £50 million network of 18 facilities across the country
A new state-of-the-art Digital Autopsy Facility - offering non-invasive post mortem examinations - is opening in Bradford.
Digital Autopsy is the new generation of post-mortem investigation, aiming to improve the performance and results of post-mortems with the added benefit of providing a humanitarian, more acceptable way of them being conducted.
The new, multi-million pound centre is housed at the modern Public and Forensic Mortuary in Burnham Avenue, Bradford, and will be officially opened by representatives from City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council on May 30th 2014.
Representatives from iGene, the company behind the technology and investment, will also be present. The Bradford facility is the second to open in the UK.
Dr Alan Fletcher, Head of Medical Science at iGene, said: "We are delighted that the Digital Autopsy Facility in Bradford is opening, which will not only complement the current arrangements for coronial investigation, but offer people an unrivalled opportunity moving forwards to avoid an invasive post mortem.
"Digital Autopsy represents a tremendous compassionate step forward in establishing the cause of death. It is non or minimally invasive, therefore avoiding having to dissect the body, and it can facilitate the earlier release of bodies for burial or cremation, which is also an important factor for grieving families."
Ash Govind, iGene global vice president, said: "We are delighted to be working with forward-thinking local authorities such as Bradford Council and the new facility underlines our commitment to having a nationwide network of Digital Autopsy centres available to every person in the UK."
Deputy Leader of Bradford Council, Coun Imran Hussain, said: "I'm very proud that Bradford will be one of the first places in the country to have these digital scanning facilities. It will be welcome news for all bereaved families.
Digital Autopsy involves a scan of the body using a multislice CT scanner, before iGene’s revolutionary, proprietary software ‘INFOPSY®’ creates a 3D reconstruction of the actual body, enabling the pathologist to conduct a full, non-invasive digital post mortem on a computer screen. The results, which meet all required medico-legal standards, are available almost immediately.
The Bradford facility is part of a £50 million investment by iGene for a network of 18 centres across the UK.
Benefits of the Digital Autopsy system include:
- Easing the emotional burden on families at a time of intense stress with a dignified and non-invasive investigation.
- Speed of examination, investigation and subsequent autopsy results, minimising delays in releasing the body for burial or cremation
- Accuracy of results - Some findings that are difficult to spot during a conventional process can be more easily identified and examined in line with the needs of forensic pathologists.
Approximately 550,000 deaths are recorded in England and Wales each year alone, of which more than 200,000 are classified as medico legal. iGene believes that Digital Autopsies will become the first line intervention in post-mortem investigation and more than 70% of the cases could be concluded with Digital Autopsy alone. In the future a more targeted, invasive post mortem may be only required where Digital Autopsy cannot provide all information required.
Deborah Smith, Wordsmith Communication UK Limited, on 07881 500557 or ds@wordsmith-communication.co.uk.
Nick Britten, Wordsmith Communication UK Limited, on 07896 950699 or nick@wordsmith-communication.co.uk
About iGene:
iGene specializes in the development of Advance Medical Visualization Technology. It has won numerous international and local awards, cited by international journals for its work in the space of the use of visualization in post-mortem examination. You can find out more about Digital Autopsies by visiting: http://digitalautopsy.co.uk/