Apparatus and method for dating a body or body sample

摘要

A method and apparatus for dating a body sample, such as blood, includes taking at least one spectroscopic measurement of the sample at at least two predetermined positions in the spectrum having spectral characteristics corresponding to at least two predetermined substances present in the sample that have a time varying relationship with each other. A measured relative concentration of each of the predetermined substances is then determined from the measurement, and the measured relative concentrations of the two predetermined substances is compared with a known variation of the relative concentrations of the two predetermined substances over time. A good fit of the measured relative concentrations to the known variation of the relative concentrations is then determined, so as to provide an indication of the age of the sample. Alternatively, instead of measuring the relative concentrations of each of the predetermined substances, the rate of change of the relative concentrations is determined.

主权项

1. A method of dating a body sample comprising:
taking at least one spectroscopic measurement of the sample, the measurement including at least two predetermined positions in a spectrum, the positions having spectral characteristics corresponding to at least two predetermined substances present in the sample that have a time varying relationship with respect to each other; wherein the method comprises determining a measured relative concentration of each of the predetermined substances present in the sample from the spectroscopic measurement; comparing the measured relative concentrations of said at least two predetermined substances with a known variation of relative concentrations of the at least two predetermined substances over time; and providing an indication of age of the sample based on a correlation criterion between the measured relative concentrations and the known variation of the relative concentrations.