Neuron Guard Creates Portable Device to Treat Acute Brain Injury
February 02, 2016
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Acute brain injury is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, whether it is due to stroke, traumatic brain injury or sudden cardiac death. Globally, it is estimated to cost over $330 billion, over 5% of total healthcare costs.Current treatment protocols include on-site resuscitation, before emergency treatment at the hospital. Once in the hospital, therapeutic hypothermia, or target temperature management, is a standardized method used to improve neurological results. It decreases excitotoxicity, limiting inflammation, preventing ATP-depletion and reduce free radical production to avoid apoptosis. However, already 8 minutes after trauma the brain can get irreversible impairments, highlighting the clinical challenges of treatment and its significant impact on socioeconomic factors.Italian startup Neuron Guard has developed a portable thermoelectric-operated collar, which refrigerates the neck area. The collar cool the blood flowing to the head and consequently lowering the temperature of the brain and reducing the extent of cerebral damage. The collar is controlled via an external unit that regulates the cooling/heating speed of the device, as well as infusion of anesthetics. Additionally, the control unit store all measurements and data gathered, improving the standard of care.(..)
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