As CDC reports, 1.7 million Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) occur annually in the U.S including soldiers and athletics. In 2010, medical costs associated with TBIs were estimated to be $76.5 billion. Depending on the severity, TBI can result in mental, cognitive, social and behavioral impairments and is a major cause of death and disability.
Management strategies for TBI include monitoring physiological parameters to minimize secondary injury, which improves patient outcome especially when coupled with therapeutic intervention. Unfortunately, current monitors require invasive surgery and can introduce more traumas to patients with pre-existing trauma.
Researchers at Arizona State University have developed a novel percutaneous sensor that continuously measures biochemical or molecular markets related to stress. This sensor is minimally invasive and can monitor multiple biomarkers simultaneously. Moreover, this sensor is highly sensitive, highly specific, and relatively easy to use to monitor stress markers in TBI patients.
This multifunctional sensor with its high performance and quick response time allows for better post-admission or post-hospitalization monitoring of TBI patients and may dramatically reduce the incidence of long-term TBI related side effects.
The sensor is able to do physiologic monitoring of biomarkers related to determining the progress and current state of TBI, dehydration, stress level, and heart dysfunction. Benefits include the ability to respond quickly, produce a low cost sensor, and the ability to wirelessly communicate and interface with drug delivery devices.
The information on the sensor was posted May 30, 2012. For more information on the project “Minimally Invasive Sensors for Biological Stress” ( AzTE Case #M12-186)--(patent pending), contact Tom Goodman, PhD, Director, for Business Development, Life Sciences, at Arizona Technology Enterprises, LLC (AzTE) at 480-884-1648 or email TomGoodman@AZTE.com.
