Virtual Autopsy
Updated 1:25 PM PST, Mon, Jan 26, 2009
Swedish physician Anders Persson, MD, PhD began his career as an X-ray lab assistant in Bollnäs, Sweden, after leaving upper secondary school. He enjoyed the work so much that he passed up the opportunity to study at the Royal Institute of Technology in order to train as a radiology nurse before ultimately becoming head of radiology for the Hälsingland region in Sweden.
Over the years Dr Persson has developed methods for capturing images inside the body, revealing what was previously invisible to the human eye. Persson was just awarded the 2008 Lennart Nilsson Award for scientific photography for his innovative techniques. His techniques have proven particularly useful for post-mortem imaging, providing invaluable information for forensic investigation.
According to the board of the Lennart Nilsson Award Foundation “[Persson] reveals the hidden mysteries of the body with unique precision, producing images that can be understood and interpreted by the lay public and experts alike.”
Dr Persson is Director of the Center for Medical Image Science and Visualization (CMIV) at Linköping University and the University Hospital in Linköping, Sweden, where he has developed 3D imaging technology with considerable success. Dr Persson and his colleagues produce their images of the inside of the human body using a combination of imaging techniques including magnetic resonance, ultrasound and positron emission tomography. After capturing these initial images, Persson compiles them into pictures of great clarity that are rich in data.
The CMIV’s techniques open up completely new avenues for forensic medical experts to conduct analyses that are much quicker and simpler than conventional methods. Persson’s spectacular 3D images have been featured prominently on CSI, a popular TV series about a team of forensic scientists.
See a gallery of some of his images or read more about the award.
First Published: Nov 3, 2008 10:06 AM PST
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