India develops indigenous handheld device to detect traumatic brain injuries

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a significant public health challenge, particularly in emergency settings, rural areas, and underserved populations where advanced diagnostic tools like CT or MRI scans are inaccessible or delayed.

India has now developed a handheld device, Cerebo, to detect TBI, and it has received approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).

Developed through a collaboration between the Indian Council of Medical Research- Medical Device and Diagnostics Mission Secretariat, AIIMS Bhopal, NIMHANS Bengaluru, and Bioscan Research (ICMR-MDMS), a handheld device called CEREBO has been developed to detect brain injuries. “We use CT scans to detect brain injuries. This device is an easy alternative to check for bleeding in the brain. It has received approval from DCGI,” ICMR Director General Dr Rajiv Bahl said.

Globally, TBI affects 69 million people, and more than 8 million are misdiagnosed. In its annual report, ICMR has explained the efficiency of Cerebo over traditional methods, such as the Glasgow Coma Scale and imaging techniques, which require specialised infrastructure, trained personnel, and are cost-intensive.

The Glasgow Coma Scale is a neurological scale used to assess a person's level of consciousness after a traumatic brain injury or other acute medical conditions.

“To address this issue, Cerebo—a portable, non-invasive brain injury diagnostic tool—has been developed using advanced near-infrared spectroscopy technology powered by machine learning. Capable of detecting intracranial bleeding and edema within a minute, Cerebo provides color-coded, radiation-free, and cost-effective results. Designed for deployment in ambulances, trauma centers, rural clinics, and disaster response units, it enhances early TBI detection and patient outcomes,” ICMR said.

ICMR said that the device underwent clinical validation, regulatory approvals, and feasibility studies, paving the way for global adoption in emergency and military healthcare systems. Published in the health journal Neurology India, the researchers mentioned that while Cerebo is not intended to replace CT scans, it may be beneficial in instances where CT scans are unavailable to study deep tissues non-invasively and bring hospital-grade diagnosis to the point of care.

"This is especially relevant because nearly half of patients with a head injury who get CT scans within 2 hours after damage, especially those with cerebral contusions, are suspected to have early progressive bleeding," said the study aimed at assessing the device.