New technology senses and assesses battlefield brain injury

Known as BLAST (Blast Load Assessment Sense and Test), the three-part system features separate components for measuring blast pressure, establishing injury thresholds for the brain, and analysing potential TBI symptoms.

Coin-sized sensors that can survive an explosion are attached to armour or helmets, providing data on blast pressure. A handheld or airport-style walkthrough scanner is then used to read the data from the sensors and use an algorithm to convert it into “go or no-go” threshold judgments. If a soldier must be removed from combat, he or she then undergoes a TBI-focused medical exam using a neurofunctional assessment tool.

“A system like BLAST is vitally important because it can help recognise the signs of TBI early and tell warfighters they might need medical attention,” said Dr Timothy Bentley, a program manager overseeing the research for ONR’s Warfighter Performance Department.

“This reduces the likelihood of someone enduring multiple blasts and suffering more serious brain injury. BLAST also is unique for its unique suite of technology.”