PHILADELPHIA, PA -- InfraScan, a medical device firm specializing in brain injury diagnostic products, announces that it has signed a $3.7 million, 4 year contract with the U.S. Marine Corps / 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 Infrascanner is a commercially available, non-invasive device which can detect the presence of a brain hematoma based on differential NIR light absorption of a hematoma and normal brain tissue.
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 InfraScan team is honored to receive this contract," said Baruch Ben Dor, PhD, president and CEO of InfraScan. "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 4 years, modifying the Infrascanner to meet the rigors of military combat. This is an outstanding use of the Infrascanner's capabilities."
InfraScan 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.
"We are happy to continue this unique partnership for innovation with InfraScan," said Banu Onaral, PhD, director of Drexel's School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems. "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."
The Infrascanner has been awarded the CE mark, Canada Health and FDA clearance. For information visit http://www.infrascanner.com