Rugby player develops handheld concussion detector

Known as CONTACT, the device aims to be able to give an accurate concussion diagnosis within ten seconds. It measures pupil response to light stimulus when a suspected concussion has occurred, using an infrared camera to capture factors such as pupil size, speed of constriction, and the speed at which the eyes respond to the light stimulus. This is then compared against baseline ‘healthy’ metrics taken from the subject ahead of time, allowing for an objective assessment of whether there is concussion.

Joel Poulter, a recent product design graduate from Loughborough, was prompted to develop the device after seeing and experiencing the effects of concussion throughout his 15-year amateur rugby career.

“Detecting concussions early is incredibly important as returning to play prematurely after a concussion risks ‘second-impact syndrome’, which is often fatal,” said Poulter. “Multiple sports concussions are also linked to long-term health problems, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, which can lead to dementia in later life.