Helmet Sensors Detect Brain Injury in Soldiers
From: ECN - 01/16/2017

The battlefield is a volatile environment, exposing soldiers to many
potential dangers. Although the physical symptoms may not be immediate, shock
waves and blast pressures can often lead to traumatic brain injury (TBI) in
soldiers. In order to improve TBI detection, the US Navy is developing small
sensors and a companion scanner to protect those who serve.

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) is currently developing BLAST, or the
Blast Load Assessment Sense and Test. The design includes small sensors
embedded into a soldier's helmet or body armor. These sensors capture and
record the blast pressure in the event of an explosion. A nearby scanner,
either handheld or stationary, feeds the pressure data into a specialized
algorithm that decides whether or not the solider should remain in action.

If the algorithm registers that an individual should be removed from the
scene, a neurofunctional assessment tool delivers vibrations in alternating
patterns to stimulate feelings in the soldier's fingertips. If the individual
cannot feel those particular sensations, medics can determine if TBI has
occurred.

This device is currently undergoing laboratory experiments, but the ONR hopes
to test this technology on field mannequins and Marine personnel during
training exercises in the next few years.

Read the entire article at:
https://www.ecnmag.com/blog/2017/01/helmet-sensors-detect-brain-injury-soldiers

Links:
Office of Naval Research
https://www.onr.navy.mil

BLAST: Greater Speed, Accuracy in Recognizing Brain Injury
https://www.onr.navy.mil/Media-Center/Press-Releases/2017/ONR-BLAST-TBI-Protection.aspx