NIR optical brain scanner wins $3.7M Marine Corps contract

Kathy Mahdoubi | | Health Imaging | Molecular Imaging

A brain scanner based on differential near-infrared (NIR) energy is getting a healthy push forward with a $3.7 million, four-year contract with the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy for the development of diagnostic imaging for traumatic brain injury and hematoma, makers InfraScan announced Oct. 1.

The new scanner will be able to gauge changes in oxygen saturation in the brain as well as edema in a fast-paced, triage-friendly neurological evaluation. The Marine Corps has contracted InfraScan in the past and will continue to bankroll the development of the technology.

"The InfraScan team is honored to receive this contract," said InfraScan president and CEO Baruch Ben Dor, PhD, in a press release. "This contract expands the potentially life-saving capabilities of the current Infrascanner by adding the detection of additional key injury mechanisms associated with traumatic brain injury. We have worked with the Marines for the past four years, modifying the Infrascanner to meet the rigors of military combat. This is an outstanding use of the Infrascanner's capabilities."

The optical imaging system was originally designed in collaboration with researchers from the Drexel University School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems. InfraScan will call on this team again to create a new prototype for the FDA, Canada Health and CE-approved technology.

"Seeing the success of this lifesaving device is a validation of our engineering research model and the work we've put into keeping this technology on the cutting edge," said Banu Onaral, PhD, director of Drexel's School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems.

 

Kathy Mahdoubi

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