Even in today’s tech-heavy world, brain injury detection and treatment are extremely difficult. Those who have suffered head injuries from a car crash, industrial accident or warfare have no choice but to rely on a set of imperfect and unreliable tests to diagnose whether a brain injury occurred – and, if so, how serious is it?
Fortunately, new brain injury technology is on the horizon. Devices such as the Office of Naval Research’s (ONR) InfraScanner will allow portable and accurate testing to be performed on a patient, just minutes after the trauma occurred. The technology will be leveraged by U.S. troops on the battlefield, but may also be used by paramedics who arrive on the scene of a car accident, or by medical teams standing by at a sporting event. Eventually, the technology could become accessible to anyone.
“I want this to be a device that some soldier who has no training can take out of the back of a Humvee and use to tell if a person has a hematoma,” said Jason Riley, a scientist for the National Institute of Health, which is developing its own traumatic brain injury (TBI) scanning device.
It’s great news for brain injury victims, who often suffer through misdiagnoses that prove costly in their health outlook. The faster doctors can diagnose brain injuries, the quicker they can treat them and lessen their devastating effects.
If you or a loved one has suffered unnecessary brain injuries because of medical negligence, contact an experienced Michigan medical malpractice lawyer to discuss your legal options.
McKeen & Associates, PC, helps victims of medical malpractice. The firm’s experience and expertise in medical negligence cases allows it to succeed in the most complex and challenging cases, in Michigan and throughout the nation. Contact us to discuss your case.
Source: ProPublica.com, “New Technologies In The Works To Detect Brain Injuries,” Lena Groeger, Jan. 5, 2012
