Portable Pulmonary Injury Diagnostic Device

Pneumothorax is a serious and potentially fatal warfighter injury that is difficult to diagnose in the high noise environment of the battlefield. Diagnostic methods beyond percussion, ineffective in the presence of high ambient noise, include large systems unsuitable for the first responders, such as CT scan equipment. Therefore a system that is small, portable and accurate that can operate in these environments is required. Active Signal Technologies proposes to develop such a system based on its experience with non invasive brain pathology diagnostics and its successful development of a noise immune electronic stethoscope that has been tested in the presence of ~ 110 dBA UH60 noise. In Phase I we will model, design and build such a system and perform preliminary clinical tests in the R Adams Shock Cowley Shock Trauma Center to demonstrate its capability to assess the presence and extent of pneumothorax. The device will be PDA based, and be noise immune with a display that will be useful in high noise environments.