Portable Brain Scanner Detects Clots

The device is called the Infrascanner, and it is about the size of a tin can. It is currently being developed and tested in India, but the US Navy has invested one million dollars in the device. The Infrascanner uses "near infra-red" light, just like would be found in a TV remote control. The infra-red beam is able to penetrate the skull and brain tissue up to three centimetres. A haematoma, or blood clot, absorbs the light beam differently than normal brain tissue. These differences in absorbance are detected by the scanner. A red oval is displayed on the readout, locating possible haematomas. The device is not intended to replace a CT scan, but it is much more affordable and portable than a CT scanning machine. Thus, smaller hospitals and possibly paramedics could use the device to identify patients that need to be sent to a specialist. The Navy would like to use the device to help decide if an injured member of the crew needs to be evacuated.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6541279.stm