Neural Analytics said today it enrolled the 1st patient in a 2-year study exploring the use of its Lucid M1 transcranial doppler ultrasound system to evaluate cerebral blood flow in patients with mild traumatic brain injuries.
The Lucid M1 system is a portable all-in-one ultrasound system designed for measuring and displaying cerebral blood flow velocities in patients with brain disorders, the Los Angeles, Calif.-based company said.
In the 240-patient trial, researchers at the University of California Los Angeles will examine high school and college age enrollees in 3 separate groups, including those who have been affected by mild TBI, those who engage in high-risk contact sports and those who engage in low-risk contact sports.
The study will include analysis of after injury and return-to-participation components, Neural Analytics said, to support the development of a new objective method for quantifying physiologic changes after mild TBI by comparing the hemodynamic measurements to clinical evaluations using magnetic resonance imaging techniques.
“Understanding the pathophysiology of a concussion is very important to treating patients in a timely fashion. The findings of this study can potentially help us identify the subtle changes that aren’t easily detected using current diagnostic methods in treating and managing individuals with mild TBI,” co-principal investigator & UCLA Steve Tish BrainSPORT program director Dr. Christopher Giza said in a prepared statement.
Neural Analytics said the study is part of a $3 million grant the company received from the National Institute of Health’s National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
“There’s a need for a definitive method for mild TBI assessment, in particular for determining if a patient is ready to return to playing after a sports concussion, especially in high school and college athletes. Findings from this study may help inform physicians on return to play decisions,” principal investigator & chief scientific officer Robert Hamilton said in a press release.
In May, Neural Analytics released initial results from the Expedite study of its Transcranial Doppler Tech platform, touting 95% accuracy in the early detection of acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion.