Presenter
Colin Laidlaw
Document Type
Prototype
Publication Date
2026
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains a major cause of death in the United States. In emergency field care, first responders must quickly assess neurological status and determine appropriate patient transport. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), the primary neurological assessment used in the field, correctly identifies TBI only about 40 percent of the time. In Rhode Island, state protocols require all patients with suspected TBI to be transported to a Level I trauma center. This creates challenges when trauma resources are limited or when symptoms are subtle and difficult to evaluate in the field. To address this issue, a reaction time testing device was redesigned to better support first responder decision-making. The electronics were updated to include twelve touch sensitive pads, and the software was adapted to evaluate patients across different age groups. During use, patients respond by touching the pad nearest to an illuminated LED, and total assessment time is displayed along with an indication of possible TBI. Clinical testing is scheduled for March 2026 to evaluate usability and performance and to guide further development toward a reliable field-based assessment tool.
Faculty Mentor
Nicole Urban, Ph.D.
Academic Discipline
College of Arts & Sciences
Repository Citation
Laidlaw, Colin and Powers, Lauren, "Field-Based Device to Test Possible TBIs" (2026). Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium. 292.
https://scholarsarchive.jwu.edu/innov_symposium/292
