Cadaveric skull and tissue cutting manipulator: autopsy equipment that provides safety against airborne infection and COVID-19

PURPOSE: Many autopsies, including COVID-19 cases, will be carried out where the cause of death, including COVID-19 cases, is unknown and the mortuary staffs will possibly be exposed to infectious bone dust and secretions. To help our funeral colleagues minimize their risk of infection, this manipulator was created to help prevent such serious events, as well as other conditions related to airborne diseases. This article provides some technical details necessary for creating an autopsy saw, including the machinery design, control system design, specification of devices, and other abilities of this machine. METHODS: The manipulator consists of a control system, linear actuator motors, a gearbox with DC gear motor, DC gear servo coreless motor, and the out-runner brushless DC electric motor. RESULTS: The results showed that the manipulator can be assembled to fit to, and be removed from, an autopsy bed without drilling into the bed surfaces. There is adjustment of the cutting range, both vertically and horizontally, via a remote control. The saw frame can be rotated through 360° for skull and tissue cutting. The saw blade depth can be adjusted from 0 to 3 cm. The rotational speed of the saw blade can be regulated from 0 to 10,080 RPM. The cutting procedure can be controlled remotely, up to 20 m away from the manipulator. CONCLUSION: In future projects, the instrument design should allow control incorporating “Internet of things” technology, be constructed under a multipurpose autopsy machine concept, and also autonomously conduct a full autopsy procedure.