Car accident victims and their medical providers would benefit from the early detection of traumatic brain injury

More than one million individuals sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) every year. As a firm specializing in representing victims of auto accidents throughout this state, our Michigan car accident attorneys often encounter brain injured clients who, according to the client’s medical charts, did not demonstrate any tell-tale signs or symptoms of brain injury at the scene of a motor vehicle accident.  The delay in detection may have profoundly negative ramifications for the injured individual’s recovery or even survival.  Thus, the earlier a head injury can be diagnosed, the better.

Several entrepreneurs are racing to find a non-invasive device capable of detecting abnormal intracranial pressure of individuals suspected to have suffered traumatic brain injuries.  By accurately determining the intracranial pressure, paramedics (or any trained professional) could theoretically determine the severity or urgency of the injured individual’s traumatic brain injury.

One such device is being developed by Arthur Rappaport and is expected to appear on the market within 18 months. The device utilizes a “1-inch diameter ultrasound probe” that is applied to the injured individual’s forehead.  Ultrasound-wave data are collected by the device which is then processed by the device on site.  The results would give emergency responders a firm basis upon which to dictate the next steps in the patient’s treatment.  How is this different from current technologies and procedures? This device does not require actual insertion into the patient.  Those types of procedures often do not take place until the patient shows some sign of impairment. With this new device, emergency responders at the scene of an auto accident, for example, could test for elevated intracranial pressure levels, speeding up the treatment process exponentially.

We have seen numerous cases where car accident victims have sustained a brain injury. Such injuries are not always apparent, which would make this type of technology extremely beneficial. With earlier diagnoses, those with traumatic brain injuries, their family members, medical providers, and other advocates could seek proper treatment or at the very least monitor that individual’s condition before waiting for outward signs of decline before taking action. Armed with this information earlier on, legal advocates would be in a better position to negotiate with insurance companies and other medical providers, insuring that their clients had access to the treatment and benefits needed to facilitate the recovery process.