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“ Early diagnosis of TBI is crucial , as life-critical decisions on treatment must be made with the first ‘ golden hour ’ after injury . However current diagnostic procedure relies on observation by ambulance crews , and MRI or CT scans at a hospital – which may be some distance away .”

Eye-Safe Laser Technology to Diagnose Traumatic Brain Injury

Researchers from the University of Birmingham have designed and developed a novel diagnostic device to detect traumatic brain injury ( TBI ) by shining a safe laser into the eye .
Described in Science Advances , the technique is dramatically different from other diagnostic methods and is expected to be developed into a hand-held device for use in the critical ‘ golden hour ’ after traumatic brain injury , when life critical decisions on treatment must be made .
The device incorporates a class 1 , CE marked , eye-safe laser and a unique Raman spectroscopy system , which uses light to reveal the biochemical and structural properties of molecules by detecting how they scatter light , to detect the presence and levels of known biomarkers for brain injury .
There is an urgent need for new technologies to improve the timeliness of TBI diagnosis , which is a leading cause of death worldwide .
TBI is caused by sudden shock or impact to the head , which can cause mild to severe injury to the brain , and although it needs diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible to prevent further irreversible damage , it is hard to diagnose at the point of injury .
Moreover , radiological investigations such as X-ray or MRI are very expensive and slow to show results .
Birmingham researchers , led by Professor Pola Goldberg Oppenheimer from the School of Chemical Engineering , designed
and developed the novel diagnostic handheld device to assess patients as soon as injury occurs .
It is fast , precise and non-invasive for the patient , causing no additional discomfort , can provide information on the severity of the trauma , and will be suitable to be used on-site -- at the roadside , on the battlefield or on the sports pitch -- to assess TBI .
Professor Pola Goldberg Oppenheimer said : “ Early diagnosis of TBI is crucial , as life-critical decisions on treatment must be made with the first ‘ golden hour ’ after injury . However current diagnostic procedure relies on observation by ambulance crews , and MRI or CT scans at a hospital -- which may be some distance away .”

“ Early diagnosis of TBI is crucial , as life-critical decisions on treatment must be made with the first ‘ golden hour ’ after injury . However current diagnostic procedure relies on observation by ambulance crews , and MRI or CT scans at a hospital – which may be some distance away .”

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