Although traumatic brain injury (TBI) is considered an invisible wound of war, its effects can be devastating. According to the Department of Defense, more than 327,000 veterans have been diagnosed with TBI since 2000. The Department of Veterans Affairs has invested millions of dollars into research for improving diagnosis and treatment of the brain injury.<\/p>\n
The Office of Naval Research recently announced its plans to develop technology to better analyze the severity of TBI and diagnose its effects. The $30 million program involves a portable device called the Blast Load Assessment Sense and Test, or BLAST.<\/p>\n
BLAST consists of small sensors that can be attached to body armor and helmets. It is designed to withstand blast environments in order to measure shock pressure and evaluate injury thresholds for the brain. The BLAST sensors can also monitor acceleration and deceleration of the body during explosions.<\/p>\n
BLAST could improve response to battlefield exposure by providing a (more…)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Although traumatic brain injury (TBI) is considered an invisible wound of war, its effects can be devastating. According to the Department of Defense, more than 327,000 veterans have been diagnosed with TBI since 2000. The Department of Veterans Affairs has…<\/span><\/p>\n