ICMR offers indigenous tech to replace CT/MRI scans for traumatic brain injuries, seeks support from State governments

Geared toward lowering mortality and disabilities brought on by traumatic mind accidents (TBI), particularly in rural areas the place superior diagnostic instruments, together with CT (computerised tomography) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans are inaccessible or delayed, the Indian Council of Medical Analysis (ICMR) is providing CEREBO, a conveyable, non-invasive mind harm diagnostic device which has been developed utilizing superior near-infrared spectroscopy expertise powered by machine studying.

The ICMR is now looking for assist from State governments to leverage this indigenous, comparatively low-cost expertise. 

The hand held machine is protected for infants and pregnant ladies, too. It may be utilized by paramedical workers in addition to unskilled personnel with simply half-hour of coaching.

“TBI is a big public well being problem, significantly in emergency settings. Conventional strategies, such because the Glasgow Coma Scale, are susceptible to errors and subjective interpretations, whereas imaging methods require specialised infrastructure, educated personnel, and are cost-intensive,” Dr. Rajiv Bahl, head, ICMR, mentioned.

The brand new gadget might detect intracranial bleeding and edema inside a minute, he added, and supplied colour-coded, radiation-free, and cost-effective outcomes.

“Designed for deployment in ambulances, trauma centres, rural clinics, and catastrophe response items, it enhances early TBI detection and affected person outcomes,’’ Dr. Bahl mentioned.

Developed in a collaboration between the ICMR, the Medical Gadget and Diagnostics Mission Secretariat (MDMS); All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhopal; the Nationwide Institute of Psychological Well being and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru; and Bioscan Analysis, CEREBO has undergone scientific validation, regulatory approvals, and feasibility research, “paving the way in which for world adoption in emergency and army healthcare programs,’’ Dr. Bahl mentioned.

Moreover, the ICMR famous that multi-centre scientific efficiency analysis, and utility trials supported by the ICMR-MDMS’s mPRiDE scheme, have been performed at main trauma care and neurosurgical centres to generate strong, potential proof on diagnostic accuracy, time-to-decision advantages, and integration feasibility inside emergency care pathways.

The ICMR is now looking for to reinforce the gadget’s adoption in tertiary care to speed up CT scans, optimise triage, and cut back imaging prices. 

India has the best incidence of head accidents on the planet, based on the Indian Head Harm Basis, with greater than 100,000 lives misplaced to go accidents yearly, and over a million individuals affected by critical head accidents.

Half of those that die from TBI achieve this inside the first two hours of harm. It’s now recognized that solely a portion of neurological harm happens due to influence (the first harm), and harm progresses through the ensuing minutes, hours, and days. The secondary mind harm may end up in elevated mortality and incapacity. Consequently, early and applicable administration of TBI is crucial in securing higher outcomes for sufferers.