FORT BELVOIR, Virginia (August 27, 2018) – The U.S. Army’s Rapid Equipping Force has partnered with the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command to equip Warfighters in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait and Korea with traumatic brain injury (TBI) assessment devices.
One device being equipped is a comprehensive, non-invasive head injury assessment device that allows the medical community to objectively assess the full spectrum of brain injury through interpreting brain electrical activity and neurocognitive function. A second device being equipped is a non-invasive, handheld medical screening tool that rapidly detects brain hematomas in patients with head injuries.
Mr. Brian Dacanay, a TBI device Product Manager at the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity said, “The REF is one of the most unique and valuable resources we have to quickly provide technologies to the deployed setting and gain user feedback. Utilizing the REF to deploy the latest FDA-cleared technologies, will provide programmatic feedback for locations where medical resources are limited. Information gathered from equipping units with these devices may influence future fielding plans to fill capability gaps for optimal patient care.”
According to the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, more than 379,000 traumatic brain injuries were reported in Service Members between 2000 and 2017, of which 12% were moderate to severe.
“The REF provides the Army with Quick Reaction Capabilities,” said Maj. Stephen Cheng, REF Assistant Program Manager. “These two technologies will provide Soldiers with early screening devices for intracranial bleeding and will quickly identify those who would benefit most from immediate referral to a CT scan and neurosurgical intervention.”
The TBI assessment devices are projected to be in Soldiers’ hands beginning in September.
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About The Rapid Equipping Force
The Rapid Equipping Force provides innovative materiel solutions to meet the urgent requirements of U.S. Army forces deployed globally, informs materiel development for the future force, and on order expands to meet operational demands.
The REF supports priority equipping efforts including solutions for Subterranean Operations, Electronic Warfare, Unmanned Aerial Systems, Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems, Persistent ISR, and Expeditionary Force Protection. Because of its unique flexibility and speed, the REF has also been directed to support Headquarters, Department of the Army with select projects such as Patriot Cooling System, Commercial Heavy Armored Vehicle, and Electronic Warfare Tactical Vehicle.
For more information, media may email the REF Public Affairs Office at usarmy.belvoir.ref.list.ref-public-affairs@mail.mil.
| Date Taken: | 08.27.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 08.27.2018 10:04 |
| Story ID: | 290395 |
| Location: | FORT BELVOIR, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 341 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, REF Equips Traumatic Brain Injury Detection Devices, by Dana Ayers, Contractor, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
