Compact quantitative near infrared device for combat casualty care

The early recognition of severe hemorrhage is a key factor towards reducing mortality and morbidity from battlefield insults. Although near-infrared (NIR) instruments have shown promise in recognizing hemorrhage, specific confounding factors must be solved to be reliable in early hemorrhage shock detection. Our hypothesis is that confounding factors can be reduced or eliminated by i) using increased spectral and temporal information, ii) using a real-time statistical algorithm to measure the hemodynamic/cardiac behavior. The objective of this proposal is to provide a compact point-of-care NIR instrument that is capable of quantitatively detecting early hemorrhage and monitoring therapeutic interventions. Our proposal features collaboration between (1) a leading biomedical technology company (ISS, Inc., Champaign, IL) that produces state-of-the-art NIR tissue oximeters, and (2) a university research teams at UC Irvine, with tissue optics experts who have experience in the assessment of traumatic injury via NIR optical methods. The existing ISS oximeter will be modified to increase information content that will solve the confounding factors. At the conclusion of Phase I, we will provide a unique NIR instrument that will be available for comprehensive clinical validation and subsequent commercialization (Phase III).