Infrascan, a Philadelphia-based medical device firm specializing in brain injury diagnostic products, has entered into a four-year, $3.7 million contract with the U.S. Navy.

The agreement will lead to 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 noninvasive device that 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 integrated capabilities, including the ability to detect changes in local oxygen saturation within brain and extremity tissues, to detect brain edema and to administer a neurological concussion evaluation exam. The device will support expedient assessment and triage of brain-injured personnel in the Marine Corps.

InfraScan will be partnering with researchers in Drexel University’s School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems to redesign the device and test the new prototype.