The U.S. Marine Corps and Navy have awarded InfraScan a $3.7 million contract to upgrade its handheld IR brain hematoma detector for use on the battlefield.

Infrascan already offers a commercial device, the Infrascanner, that can detect the presence of a brain hematoma based on difference in near-infrared light absorption between normal and injured brain tissue.

The military contract will support the development of new, integrated capabilities including detection of oxygen saturation in brain and extremity tissues, edema and concussion to aid assessment and triage of brain-injured personnel.

Researchers at Drexel University, who participated in development of the original Infrascanner, will help redesign the device and test a prototype.

“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,” said InfraScan CEO Dr. Baruch Ben Dor.

For more information, visit www.infrascanner.com.