CEREBO – Indigenous Brain Tool: portable diagnostic instrument for indigenous use

What is it?

A portable, hand-held, non-invasive device for diagnosing brain injuries.

Employs near-infrared spectroscopy coupled with machine learning to identify brain irregularities in under a minute.

Created by:

Partnership among ICMR, Medical Device & Diagnostics Mission Secretariat (MDMS), AIIMS Bhopal, NIMHANS Bengaluru, and Bioscan Research.

Objective:

To offer an affordable, swift, radiation-free diagnostic method for Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs), particularly in areas with restricted access to CT/MRI.

Attributes:

Identifies intracranial hemorrhage and cerebral edema in less than a minute.

Suitable for babies and expectant mothers.

May be utilized by paramedics and inexperienced personnel in ambulances, rural healthcare facilities, trauma centers, and emergency zones.

Results are color-coded for easy interpretation.

Confirmed by multi-center clinical studies; authorized for emergency and military applications.

Significance:

Closes the diagnostic gap in rural and underserved regions.

Facilitates prompt identification and prioritization, lowering death rates and long-lasting issues.

Decreases reliance on expensive, infrastructure-intensive imaging (CT/MRI).

Possibility for worldwide acceptance in trauma and emergency healthcare.

Regarding Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI):

What does it represent?

An interruption of typical brain activity resulting from an abrupt injury to the head.

Can vary from mild (concussion) to serious, frequently resulting in permanent disabilities.

Reasons: Traffic collisions (around 60%), Slips and trips (20–25%), and Aggression (approximately 10%).

Attributes / Results:

Instant: Unconsciousness, bewilderment, migraine, lightheadedness, convulsions.

Complications: Bleeding in the skull, swelling (edema), loss of consciousness.

Long-term: Forgetfulness, decline in cognition, mood disorders, anxiety, behavioral problems, increased risk of neurodegenerative conditions.

Undetected risk: Mild TBIs can remain unrecognized at first but can deteriorate if left untreated.