The SPEX RUVIS SceneScope

SPEX introduced its first RUVIS SceneScope Imager in 1997. The instrument is capable of detecting and photographing invisible latent fingerprints on non porous surfaces, without any treatments. It is both a forensic lab unit and a crime scene investigator's tool. The system was redesigned for better performance and look enhancement in 2002. 2002 was highlighted by the first quantity order for the SceneScope with 30 systems sold to the Italian Carabinieri to equip all their field units. Italy law enforcement now has a total of 37 RUVIS units.


RUVIS

RUVIS is an acronym for Reflective Ultra Violet Imaging System. RUVIS instruments are used by crime scene search investigators and laboratory evidence technicians. By enhancing the observation, photography and collection of evidence including latent fingerprints and palm prints, bites, bruises, blood detection with Luminol, shoe impressions, gun shot residues, etc., RUVIS provides more sensitivity than traditional methods of enhancement and without any treatment in many cases, thereby increasing the amount of uncovered evidence and improving the quality of evidence for photography and collection.

A RUVIS instrument consists of the imaging viewer, a powerful yet portable UV lamp, all necessary UV protection equipment, and the adapter for 35mm SLR cameras or digital cameras. The RUVIS device uses the viewer and lamp in conjunction with one another to produce a reflection off smooth, non-porous surfaces. As the surface is exposed to the UV light, the materials left behind, for example oily residues or amino-acids in the case of a fingerprint, will scatter the UV light or absorb it. The viewer sees the scatter off the ridges and allows the technician to see the latent print on the surface. By changing the angle of light, the contrast of the print changes and its visibility can be increased, thus allowing the visualization and photography of the latent print without any treatment or contact. SPEX's RUVIS product is the SceneScope (SC).

The SPEX SceneScope was designed with inputs from Tony Cantu from US Secret Service, Ed German and two engineers from E.O.S.I. It was first tested on actual crime scenes by John Fisher in Florida (Orange County) who optimized the various ways of illuminating the evidence during a search for latents. In particular John Fischer developed methods showing how critical the angle of incidence can be to optimize a print before photographing it. Using illumination from two UV lamps on either side of the latent prints, was suggested by John Fischer in the late 1990's.


SC-FM2 high resolution photography setup

This patented option is used in conjunction with the SC-VIEWER when high resolution is needed and high dynamic range, which only photographic film can provide.

Used in parallel with the SceneScope, the SC-FM2 option is the complement for high quality work in the laboratory and at the crime scene.

The optical design: A standard Nikon FM2/FM3 camera viewfinder/prism is removed and permanently replaced, with an opto-mechanical assembly on top of the camera. The SceneScope intensifier can be quickly connected to the back of the camera. The user visualizes in live mode, the Ultra-Violet image to be captured directly on the short-wave UV sensitive film such as two commercial black & white models, TRI-X-400 film or PXP-100, without any intensifier in-between.

This device is used when:

- High resolution and high dynamic photography is required beyond the traditional 2Kx1.5K pixels resolution and 8bit (256 levels of gray) from digital cameras typically used by Law Enforcement. It allows the visualization of details the SceneScope in viewer configuration may not resolve, such as pores in fingerprint ridges or highly detailed large size palm prints. In this mode, the resolution and dynamic range are limited only by the photographic film, from 5000 dpi up to 8000 dpi as per manufacturer, not by any electro-optical device such as the intensifier which is limited to approximately 2000 dpi.

- No electric/electronic device is allowed between the evidence and the photographic film - to ensure the integrity of the evidence presented to Court. The intensifier is only used to view the evidence in live mode. The image is "printed" directly on the UV sensitive film through the quartz lens - no other element does enter in the optical path. This is critical for legal reasons in countries such as Japan.

The detailed specifications

High Resolution modified 35mm SLR Nikon FM2 camera for direct Ultra-Violet photography with simultaneous viewing and focusing capability, 78mm focal length quartz UV lens and 254nm UV bandpass filter. This configuration provides UNMATCHED photographic quality, quite superior to digital or film photography when using a camera placed on the back of the intensifier.


APPLICATIONS

Latent Fingerprint Detection

The primary application for a RUVIS is the detection of latent prints without treatment on smooth non-porous surfaces. When first using a RUVIS in the collection of prints, the investigator protects the integrity of the evidence by not running the risk of contaminating or destroying a print due to physical contact by over-powdering or smudging. Print collection can be performed on surfaces such as plastic bags, sticky side of tape, glossy magazine surfaces, photographs, vinyl and linoleum tile, varnished furniture, compact disks, credit cards etc., all without treatment of any kind. Cyanoacrylate treatment (also called "superglue fuming", a technique pioneered in Japan) will further enhance the results of the RUVIS, increasing the number of different surface types where a latent print can be visualized and collected. Due to the specific wavelength of UV light that the RUVIS utilizes for operation, processing of a vehicle for prints can be accomplished outdoors in daylight since that specific wavelength is not present in the solar spectrum and in the artificial lighting. Police investigators are no longer required to place the vehicle in a tent, garage or wait until nightfall to look for prints. Again the search is best performed on smooth non-porous surfaces of the vehicle, but now the searches can be accomplished in a timely manner at the scene and do yield more latent prints.

Bites and Bruises and Shoe Impressions

The RUVIS instrument can be used to reveal bruise and patterned wound details that are invisible under normal white light illumination. Details of a bruise pattern in a suspect's palm can link a suspect to a weapon, and a bite mark can link a suspect to a victim. A tool used to hit a victim in the head, was matched with the shape of the wound by using various UV filters 254-312-365nm which can be added in the kit for such "skin damage examination". Shoe impressions can be detected and photographed before trying to use lifters, providing a safe copy of the print before any process takes place. The dust for example will scatter the UV light and uncover details from the shoeprint. Impressions in rugs, varnished tiles can also be enhanced in UV mode.

Crime Scene Scanning

Upon entering a room at the crime scene, a RUVIS can be utilized to observe large smooth surfaces from a distance to determine if there are prints that would need to be photographed and collected. This scanning saves time by having the latent print detected area processed instead of the entire surface. It tells the investigators which areas to focus on.

Luminol and Blood Detection

RUVIS instruments can be used in the detection of blood when used in conjunction with Luminol. The RUVIS intensifies the chemiluminescence of the Luminol and allows for the visualization of the faintest of blood stains using blue band-pass filters. With a RUVIS instrument the technician will have the opportunity to collect more blood samples, without having to over saturate with Luminol to get luminescence.


Crime scene investigation

The SceneScope offers the following advantages:

LESS FATIGUING: The newly redesigned SceneScope is more compact and ergonomically designed to fit in the palm of the hand. A strap keeps the unit snug on the hand, even without holding onto the unit. The previous design was larger, bulkier and more awkward to handle. It also did not have the safety strap to keep it on your hand if you let go.

DIRECT UV PHOTOGRAPHY: With SPEX's patented SC-FM2, a High Resolution modified 35 mm SLR Nikon camera, in conjunction with the SceneScope, one can simultaneously view, focus and photograph on UV sensitive film. Using the modified SC-FM2 for photography, allows for a much larger field of view, 24mm x 36mm.

DIRECTIVE ULTRA-VIOLET LAMP: The standard UV light source included with the SceneScope focuses the UV light in a straight beam; this focused light is necessary in creating the best contrast off a surface. This is accomplished by changing the angle of light, from oblique to perpendicular, as it shines on the surface.

SAFETY FIRST: The SceneScope comes with a complete set of protection against UV light exposure: full face protection, goggles, and a shield for the SceneScope. When operating the unit, as with working on evidence, users will wear UV blocking gloves and must wear long sleeves for skin protection.

ORIGINATORS: For more than 7 years the SceneScope has been the cutting edge of latent fingerprint detection technology. First marketed by JY in 1997, the SceneScope has been sold to numerous U.S. law enforcement agencies at all levels. It has been sold worldwide to most national Police Agencies. The FBI uses both the SC-viewer kit and the full SC-FM2 kits in their photography labs.

SPEX Forensics keeps introducing MORE Identification instrumentation to meet Today's law enforcement needs. The on-going addition of the Catalog line with more than 850 products featured in a 140+ page catalog opens up the market of the consumables for the forensic market. One market trend is the focus on Palm identification which has been underused for years, but can help solve 25-35% more crimes! The SC-FM2 special high resolution version of the SceneScope can capture latent palms and the simultaneous development of the PrintQuest APIS, Automated Palmprint Identification system, with capability to search large databases of palms is promising. Even all finger phalanx areas can be searched, ONLY in the SPEX PrintQuest system. Spex is introducing a RUVIS version with a 60 mm quartz lens which has an integrated slide for UV and Luminol filters.

Nicolas Vezard
SPEX Forensic Division Director

Gregoire Verrier
SPEX FLS-RUVIS Product Manager

www.scenescope.com
www.spexforensics.com

Clarifications on RUVIS brand & model names: Another brand RUVIS is available on the market although the high quality photographic device (SC-FM2, patented by SPEX) is ONLY available from SPEX.
A reverse engineering took place in a company called Sirchie, while a SPEX SceneScope Imager was in transit to the Federal Police of Brazil.
Sirchie first called its RUVIS version "KrimeSite Scope". JY - SPEX started legal actions due to major confusion generated by this. Sirchie had to change the name to "KrimeSite" Imager. Should you hear any Sirchie staff referring to their unit as "KrimeSite Scope", we would welcome this information on our email address: questions@mail.crimescope.com


(18.10.2004)

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