Military contract worth $3.7M backs NIR brain scanner

Brain injury diagnostic tool maker InfraScan (Philadelphia, PA) has signed a $3.7 million, 4-year contract with the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy. The project provides for advanced technology development and field evaluation activities to develop a next-generation version of the company's Infrascanner brain hematoma detector. The device is a commercially available, noninvasive device that can detect the presence of a brain hematoma based on differential near-infrared (NIR) light absorption of a hematoma and normal brain tissue.

Related: Inexpensive handheld tool detects brain injuries in the field

The military contract will support the development of new, integrated capabilities, including the ability to detect changes in local oxygen saturation within brain and extremity tissues; detect brain edema; and administer a neurological concussion evaluation exam. The device will support expedient assessment and triage of brain injured personnel.

The company will partner with researchers in Drexel University's School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems to redesign the device and test the new prototype. Drexel biomedical engineers participated in the design and testing of the original Infrascanner and will utilize their expertise in the optical brain imaging technology they've been developing.

For more information, please visit www.infrascanner.com.

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