Laser autopsy and cremation

Abstract

Methods and devices for laser cremation and autopsy. One or more laser beams are used to destroy at least a substantial portion of the body of a deceased human or animal. The destruction of the body may occur in a section by section fashion. In embodiments used for cremation virtually all of the body, including soft tissue, body fluid and bone, is vaporized or destroyed. In embodiments used for autopsy, the internal organs and/or anatomical structures may be grossly examined and photographs or images may be made between some or all of the sections. Such photographs or images may be analyzed for evidence of cause of death and/or may be compared to normal parameters to ascertain whether abnormalities are present. The gas or vapor resulting from the laser destruction of the body may be filtered, heated to remove pathogens and/or may be analyzed to determine the presence or amount of certain chemical analytes.

1 . A method for performing laser cremation and/or autopsy of the body of a deceased human or animal, said method comprising the steps of: 
 A. applying laser energy to the body such that the laser substantially destroys at least a substantial portion of the body.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein Step A comprises: 
 placing the body in proximity to a laser-emitting apparatus;    causing the laser-emitting apparatus to emit a laser beam such that the laser beam destroys at least a substantial portion of the body.    
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein Step A comprises: 
 providing a laser apparatus which comprises a substantially enclosed chamber within which the body may be placed and laser apparatus useable to cast a tissue destroying laser beam on a body placed within the chamber;    placing the body within the substantially enclosed chamber; and,    using the laser apparatus to cast the laser beam on the body such that at least a substantial portion of the body is vaporized or otherwise destroyed by the laser beam.    
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of: 
 B. collecting any solid, liquid or gaseous residue that remains following the laser destruction of at least a substantial portion of the body of Step A.    
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 4  wherein Step B comprises: 
 passing air and any vapor from the area adjacent the body through a collection apparatus for collection of said residue.    
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the laser comprises a CO 2  laser.  
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein Step A comprises using the laser for section by section destruction of a substantial portion of the body.  
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein the method is carried out for the purpose of autopsying at least a portion of interest of the body and wherein each section of the portion of interest of the body is less than approximately 5 cm thick.  
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein the body is held substantially stationary and the laser beam is moved so as to cause section by section destruction of at least a substantial portion of the body.  
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein the laser beam is held substantially stationary and the body is moved so as to cause section by section destruction of at least a substantial portion of the body.  
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein both the body and the laser beam are moved so as to cause section by section destruction of at least a substantial portion of the body.  
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of: 
 B. making a photograph or image or scan of the body.    
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein the method is performed for the purpose of autopsy and wherein the photograph or image is used to determine the cause of death or presence of pathology within the body.  
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 13  wherein the method further comprises the step of: 
 C. comparing the photograph or image to normal parameters to determine whether the anatomical structures shown in the photograph or image are abnormal.    
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 14  wherein Step C is performed by i) providing a computer that is programed to compare the photograph or image to normal parameters, ii) converting the photograph or image to or storing the photograph or image in a computer-readable format , iii) transmitting the photograph or image in the computer-readable format to the computer and iv) using the computer to compare the photograph or image to the normal parameters to determine whether the anatomical structures shown in the photograph or image are abnormal.  
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of: 
 B. passing air and any vapor from the area adjacent the body through an afterburner device.    
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of: 
 B. passing air and any vapor from the area adjacent the body through a filtration device.    
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of: 
 B. passing air and any vapor from the area adjacent the body through a liquid trap device.    
   
   
       19 . A method according to Claim one wherein the laser used in Step A comprises a CO 2  laser.  
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein Step A is carried out using a single laser.  
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein a first portion of Step A is performed using a laser of a first power setting and a second portion of Step A is carried out using the laser on a second power setting.  
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein Step A is carried out using a plurality of lasers.  
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein Step A is carried out using at least two different types of lasers.  
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 23  wherein Sep A is carried out in section by section fashion and wherein each section of the body is substantially destroyed by a process which comprises a fist pass over that section of the body by a first laser beam and a second pass over that section of the body by a second laser beam.  
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 24  wherein the process by which each section of the body is substantially destroyed further comprises a third pass over that section of the body by a third laser beam.  
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 25  wherein the first pass is carried out using a pulsed diode laser, the second pass is carried out using a CO 2  laser on a first power setting and the third pass is carried out using a CO 2  laser on a second power setting that is higher than the first power setting.  
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 26  wherein the first pass substantially destroys at least any skin, subcutaneous fat and body fluids contained in that section, the second pass substantially destroys at least any muscle and ligaments contained in that section and the third pass substantially destroys any bone and remaining tissue contained in that section.  
   
   
       28 . A laser device for cremation and/or autopsy of a human or animal body, said device comprising: 
 a housing which defines an enclosed chamber therewithin, said chamber being sized and configured such that the body may be positioned therein;    a laser emitting apparatus useable to cast a laser beam on the body such that at least a substantial portion of the body will be destroyed by the laser beam.    
   
   
       29 . A device according to  claim 28  further comprising apparatus for moving or targeting the laser beam relative to the body.  
   
   
       30 . A device according to  claim 29  wherein the apparatus for moving the laser beam comprises apparatus for moving the laser emitting apparatus such that the laser beam emitted from the laser emitting apparatus moves over at least a portion of the body.  
   
   
       31 . A device according to  claim 29  wherein the apparatus for moving the laser beam comprises a movable reflector which directs the laser beam such that the laser beam moves over at least a portion of the body.  
   
   
       32 . A device according to  claim 28  further comprising apparatus for moving the body relative to the laser beam.  
   
   
       33 . A device according to  claim 28  further comprising: 
 apparatus for moving the body; and,    apparatus for moving the laser beam.    
   
   
       34 . A device according to  claim 28  further comprising: 
 apparatus for removing vapor and gas from the chamber.    
   
   
       35 . A device according to  claim 29  further comprising: 
 apparatus for filtering any vapor or gas removed from the chamber.    
   
   
       36 . A device according to  claim 35  wherein the apparatus for filtering comprises: 
 a filter housing through which the vapor or gas is channeled; and,    a quantity of filter material positioned within the filter housing.    
   
   
       37 . A device according to  claim 35  wherein the apparatus for filtering comprises: a quantity of liquid through which the vapor or gas is bubbled.  
   
   
       38 . A device according to  claim 28  further comprising: 
 apparatus for obtaining a photograph or image, or scan of the body.    
   
   
       39 . A device  claim 38  wherein the apparatus for obtaining a photograph or image of the body is adapted to obtain a photograph or image that is useable to determine the cause of death or presence of pathology within the body.  
   
   
       40 . A device according to  claim 38  further comprising: 
 apparatus for comparing the photograph or image of the body to normal parameters to determine whether at least one anatomical structure shown in the photograph or image is abnormal.    
   
   
       41 . A device according to  claim 40  wherein Step C wherein the apparatus for comparing the photograph or image to normal parameters comprises: 
 a computer that is programed to compare the photograph or image to normal parameters.    
   
   
       42 . A device according to  claim 41  wherein the apparatus for comparing the photograph or image to normal parameters further comprises: 
 apparatus for converting the photograph or image to, or storing the photograph or image in, a computer-readable format; and,    apparatus for transmitting the photograph or image to the computer.    
   
   
       43 . A device according to  claim 41  wherein the computer is programmed to compare the photograph or image to the normal parameters to determine whether at least one anatomical structure shown in the photograph or image is abnormal.  
   
   
       44 . A device according to  claim 28  further comprising: 
 an afterburner apparatus through which gas or vapor from the chamber is channeled.    
   
   
       45 . A device according to  claim 44  wherein the afterburner apparatus is operative to heat the vapor or gas to a temperature that is sufficiently high to kill any pathogens that are contained in the vapor or gas.  
   
   
       46 . A device according to  claim 28  wherein the laser emitting device comprises a single laser emitting device.  
   
   
       47 . A device according to  claim 28  wherein the laser emitting apparatus is adapted to emit a laser beam of a first power to perform one portion of the cremation or autopsy procedure and to then emit a laser beam of a second power to perform a second portion of the cremation or autopsy procedure.  
   
   
       48 . A device according to  claim 28  wherein the laser emitting apparatus comprises a plurality of laser emitting apparatus.  
   
   
       49 . A device according to  claim 28  wherein the plurality of laser emitting apparatus comprise at least two different types of lasers.  
   
   
       50 . A device according to  claim 49  wherein the device is adapted to cause a first laser pass over each section of the body by a first laser beam and a second laser pass over each section of the body by a second laser beam.  
   
   
       51 . A device according to  claim 50  wherein the device is further adapted to cause a third laser pass over that section of the body by a third laser beam.  
   
   
       52 . A device according to  claim 51  wherein the first pass is carried out using a pulsed diode laser, the second pass is carried out using a CO 2  laser on a first power setting and the third pass is carried out using a CO 2  laser on a second power setting that is higher than the first power setting.  
   
   
       53 . A device according to  claim 26  wherein the lasers are adapted and powered such that, i) the first pass substantially destroys at least any skin, subcutaneous fat and body fluids contained in that section, ii) the second pass substantially destroys at least any muscle and ligaments contained in that section and iii) the third pass substantially destroys any bone and remaining tissue contained in that section.  
   
   
       54 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein Step A further comprises: 
 providing a laser autopsy and cremation device positioned on or in a mobile platform or vehicle;    moving the mobile platform or vehicle to a location where the body t be autopsied or cremated is located; and, thereafter,    using the autopsy and cremation device positioned on or in a mobile platform or vehicle to autopsy or cremate the body.    
   
   
       55 . A device according to  claim 28  wherein the laser device for cremation and/or autopsy is positioned on or in a mobile platform or vehicle.  
   
   
       56 . A device according to  claim 55  wherein the mobile platform or vehicle is selected from the group consisting of: 
 motor vehicles;    trucks;    trailers;    busses;    boats;    ships;    amphibious vehicles;    hovercraft;    aircraft;    airplanes; and    helicopters.