Toward Development of a Field-Deployable Imaging Device for TBI
Abstract
Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) produce head injuries in nearly a majority of surviving soldiers. Most brain-injured soldiers do not, however, receive the necessary, rapid brain imaging studies as would their civilian counterparts. Instead they are flown to rear-echelon medical service centers such as in Germany for those studies, as well as additional medical care. There exists, therefore, a critical need for robust brain imaging systems at and near the battlefield. This gap in patient care reduces the quality of care and potentially, therefore the quality of life of injured soldiers. This gap also defines a critical need for rugged, field deployable systems capable of imaging injured brain. For a variety of reasons it is reasonable to expect that changes in the stiffness of brain accompany TBI, and that ultrasound-based "sonoelastic" imaging modalities responsive to some measure of stiffness might offer a useful means for imaging the changes to brain due to TBI. Use of such systems in and near the field should improve clinical outcome for patients suffering from TBI. Our long-term goal is to develop a field deployable brain imaging system, capable of transcranial application, responsive to brain stiffness.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2015
- Accession Number
- ADA624174
Entities
People
- Pierre D. Mourad
Organizations
- University of Washington