University of Virginia Develops Brain Injury Detection Equipment for Soldiers
University of Virginia Health System researchers have started to develop new improvements for the way we diagnosis traumatic brain injuries on the battle field. One of the newest developments includes a hand-held ultrasound machine which would help detect brain injuries almost instantly. The number of American soldiers who are suffering from traumatic brain injuries due to bomb blasts continues to increase at an alarming rate.
In addition to coming up with ways to diagnosis brain injuries, the researchers are also looking at brain injuries more in depth in hopes of being able to understand how a blast causes TBIs, which would hopefully lead to better protection methods.
The University of Virginia Health System researchers are working in conjunction with the United States Department of Defense. The hand-held ultrasound machine would enable combat medics and emergency medical technicians to measure the stiffness of brain tissue. The researchers are also working on a technique which would provide a more detailed view of the brain which would precisely identify if a solder has sustained a traumatic brain injury.
If the research team is able to successfully develop these new diagnostic techniques, they could help hundreds of thousands of soldiers in detecting and diagnosing TBIs in the field.