Slow progress is being made in the fight against brain injury. Earlier this year, brain injury lawyers celebrated as the Ontario Government passed Rowan’s Law, a nation-leading policy addressing concussions in youth sports. More recently, researchers at the University of Calgary introduced a new sensor that quickly and accurately detects brain injuries, including concussions, with a pinprick of blood.
Similar technology already exists, but the new immunosensor, which is ready for clinical trials, is much more sensitive and provides results more quickly.
“I think the idea that in neurological sciences – so not just brain injury, not just concussion, not just spinal cord injury – that we can actually take a fluid sample from someone and get an objective measure of injury is huge,” Chantel Debert, an associate professor in the department of clinical neurosciences at the University of Calgary, told the Calgary Herald.
The sensor works by scanning a small blood sample for proteins and molecules that are known to indicate injury in the central nervous system. By measuring these biosensors, the device, which is roughly the size of a smartphone, can also help monitor injuries.
Unlike existing technology, the University of Calgary’s sensor can deliver results in as little as 30 minutes, without the help of large machines.
“It is at least 1,000 times more sensitive [than other technologies],” said Schulich School of Engineering assistant professor Dr. Amir Sanati Nazhad, according to the Herald. “Other companies, their whole process takes about four hours or so. Our process is much faster compared to other ones.”
Much of the conversation around this type of technology relates to preventing concussions, but the sensor has many other potential uses, including some that are significant to brain injury lawyers. For instance, it could be used to detect brain injuries at the scene of car accidents or slip-and-fall events. It could also be helpful in emergency room settings – a fast, convenient brain injury test would help guide patient care.
Global News reports that the immunosensor is roughly a year away from going to market. However, if clinical trials are successful, the University of Calgary’s sensor may soon be found on sidelines and in ambulances across the country. It is expected to cost as little as $8 per unit.
If you or someone you know has suffered a head injury in an accident, contact Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers today. Our experienced team of brain injury lawyers can help you understand your legal options and provide guidance as you navigate the road to recovery.
Image credit: Fritzology, taken from University of Calgary press release
Greg Neinstein
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