Simultaneous Eye-safe Spectroscopy and Fundus Imaging Technology for Point-of-Care Detection of Traumatic Brain Injury

全世界每年有数百万人死于晚期诊断。特别是，在急诊护理实践中，生命关键的决定必须迅速作出，影响患者的预后和治疗效果。这是诊断许多急性疾病的关键窗口期，如创伤性脑损伤（TBI）——世界范围内发病率和死亡率的主要原因。创伤性脑损伤已成为21世纪的一项重大挑战，世界卫生组织估计，到2028年，神经创伤将成为全球死亡的主要原因。虽然必须迅速做出改变生活的决定，但众所周知，在护理点很难诊断，导致患者管理不正确，个人遭受认知或身体损伤的机会大大增加。目前的诊断技术严重不足，要么需要大型设备，要么等待时间长，要么具有侵入性，要么不够敏感和及时。迫切需要新技术，以便在护理点通过快速和准确的TBI诊断实现及时干预。这项研究将通过探索尖端的工程方法如何使平台技术成为可能，从而为小型传感器、监测和制药领域的下一代应用开辟新的视野。支撑该主题的是开创性便携式技术的发展，通过同步拉曼光谱和眼底成像，瞬时检测tbi特异性分子变化，通过神经视网膜和视神经安全测量脑损伤的代用物，从而独特地为脑生化提供了一个窗口。这种颠覆性的技术将使低成本制造的手持式设备能够用于急性损伤的早期诊断，无论是在接触性运动的球场边，还是在交通事故后的路边，不仅可以告知正确的临床途径，还可以减少这种毁灭性疾病造成的死亡和残疾。

Millions of people world-wide die from late diagnosis every year. In particular, in emergency care practice, life- critical decisions must be made rapidly, influencing patients' prognosis and the efficacy of treatment. There is a critical window for diagnosis of many acute diseases such as, traumatic brain injury (TBI) - a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. TBI has become a major challenge of the 21st century and by 2028, the WHO estimates that neuro-trauma will become the leading cause of death worldwide. While life-changing decisions must be made rapidly, it is notoriously hard to diagnose at the point-of-care, resulting in incorrect patient management and the chances of an individual suffering cognitive or physical impairment are massively increased. Current diagnostic technologies are woefully inadequate either requiring large equipment, long- waiting times, invasive or not sensitive and timely enough. There is an urgent need for new technologies to achieve timely intervention through rapid and accurate TBI diagnostics at the point-of-care.This research will open new horizons in medical devices by exploring how cutting-edge Engineering methods can enable a platform technology that will lead to next generation of applications in miniaturised sensors, monitoring and pharmaceuticals. Underpinning the topic is the development of pioneering portable technology for instantaneous detection of TBI-specific molecular changes, via simultaneous Raman spectroscopy and fundus imaging, to safely measure proxies of cerebral injury via the neuroretina and optic nerve, thus uniquely providing a window into brain biochemistry. Such disruptive technology will enable the low-cost manufacture of a handheld device for early diagnosis of acute injury, whether at the pitch side in contact sports, or the roadside following traffic accidents, will not only inform correct clinical pathways but also mitigate against death and disability from this devastating disease.