Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2026. Vol. 71. № 4
DOI:10.33266/1024-6177-2026-71-4-139-144
L.A. Leonova1, P.V. Pinchuk2, 3, N.N. Blinov4, A.I. Sakharov1, 5
MICROFOCUS RADIOGRAPHY USING PORTABLE DEVICES IN SOLVING FORENSIC MEDICAL AND FORENSIC CRIMINALISTIC PROBLEMS
1 Bureau of the Chief Forensic Medical Examination of the A.I. Burnazyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center, Moscow, Russia
2 Bureau of Forensic Medical Examination of the Department of Healthcare of the City of Moscow, Moscow, Russia
3 N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
4 M.F. Vladimirsky Moscow Regional Research Clinical Institute, Moscow, Russia
5 Biomedical University of Innovations and Continuing Education of the A.I. Burnazyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center, Moscow, Russia
Contact person: L.A. Leonova, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ABSTRACT
Рurpose: To participate in the development and clinical‑experimental validation of a new class of portable wearable X‑ray devices with a microfocus tube for addressing a wide range of forensic medical tasks.
Material and methods: The study was conducted in two stages: Experimental stage – performed on biomannequins. In the medico‑forensic part of this stage, the “air cushion” method was applied for direct X‑ray magnification. Clinical stage – examination of deceased bodies at the 522nd Centre for Receiving, Processing and Dispatching the Deceased of the Southern Military District (Rostov‑on‑Don) in 2023–2024. The following equipment was used: portable monoblock X‑ray devices RAP‑120M‑1N III and RAP‑2; flat‑panel detectors ROESIS XDR MG1417 and RAYENCE 1417 WCC for image acquisition.
Results: The experimental part confirmed high‑quality visualisation of foreign bodies in biological tissues, including against the background of: plaster casts; haemostatic tourniquets. Detected foreign bodies included metal fragments, bullets, glass fragments, etc. In the clinical part, the following images were analysed: 68 skull radiographs; 69 chest X‑rays; 40 images of the abdominal cavity, pelvis and limbs. Capabilities of the portable X‑ray device: visualisation of both large projectiles and tiny metal fragments (smaller than 0.5 mm); detection of secondary impact elements; identification of the “metallisation track” along the wound channel. Effectiveness of the direct X‑ray magnification method (microfocus radiography) with 2–4× magnification: high performance in examining gunshot injuries; ability to differentiate the structure of: wood; textile fibres; metal deposits.
Conclusion: The developed portable X‑ray systems represent a highly effective solution for rapid diagnostics in forensic medical practice. They provide high‑quality radiographs in any setting ‒ from autopsy rooms and field hospitals to incident sites. Thanks to the microfocus mode and the “air cushion” technique, the diagnostic potential of the method is significantly expanded, and its resolution approaches that of microtomography.
Keywords: portable radiography, forensic medical examination, microfocus radiography, blast injury, forensic criminalistic investigation, rapid diagnostics
For citation: Leonova LA, Pinchuk PV, Blinov NN, Sakharov AI. Microfocus Radiography Using Portable Devices in Solving Forensic Medical and Forensic Criminalistic Problems. Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2026;71(4):139–144. DOI:10.33266/1024-6177-2026-71-4-139-144
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PDF (RUS) Full-text article (in Russian)
Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Financing. The study had no sponsorship.
Contribution. Larisa Leonova: search for publications on the topic, literature analysis, writing the text of the article, correcting drawings and captions, checking terms on forensic medicine, scientific editing of the text; Pavel Pinchuk: formation of the purpose of work for forensic medicine, approval of the final version of the article – taking responsibility for all aspects of the work, the integrity of all parts of the article and its final version; Nikolay Nikolaevich Blinov (M.): collecting material, working with images and captions, writing text, searching for publications on the topic, analyzing literature, participating in the processing of material and calculating statistical indicators; Sakharov Alexander Igorevich: writing the text of the article, correcting drawings and captions, checking terms in forensic medicine.
Article received: 20.03.2026. Accepted for publication: 25.04.2026.