Rugby player develops handheld concussion detector

Known as CONTACT, the device aims to be able to give an accurate concussion diagnosis within ten seconds. It measures pupil response to light stimulus when a suspected concussion has occurred, using an infrared camera to capture factors such as pupil size, speed of constriction, and the speed at which the eyes respond to the light stimulus. This is then compared against baseline ‘healthy’ metrics taken from the subject ahead of time, allowing for an objective assessment of whether there is concussion.

Joel Poulter, a recent product design graduate from Loughborough, was prompted to develop the device after seeing and experiencing the effects of concussion throughout his 15-year amateur rugby career.

“Detecting concussions early is incredibly important as returning to play prematurely after a concussion risks ‘second-impact syndrome’, which is often fatal,” said Poulter. “Multiple sports concussions are also linked to long-term health problems, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, which can lead to dementia in later life.

“I’ve had multiple firsthand experiences with concussion, and I have friends that have suffered from the consequences of concussions, causing them to take a step back from playing entirely.”

While the professional level of contact sports such as rugby and American football have introduced detailed protocols for dealing with suspected concussions in recent years, amateur levels often lack the medical personnel and resources to deal with the issue adequately. On-field tests are usually subjective, generally involving a ‘follow-the-finger’ test, making it hard to determine if a concussion has been sustained. CONTACT promises a scientific solution that will bring objectivity to the process for both amateurs and professionals alike.

“I’m very aware of how tough it can be to spot a concussion from a personal and external perspective”, said Poulter.

“I wanted to develop a non-subjective test that gives a rapid assessment and can be used at all sporting levels, particularly at amateur games where there is often little-to-no medical support and therefore concussions are likely to be missed.”

Poulter trialled the tech with nine participants. Using analytical software, he was able to determine pupil maximum and minimum size, constriction speed, and pupil response time to the light stimulus in a 10-second test. He now hopes to integrate the software into the handheld device itself, enabling CONTACT to assess eye responses and deliver an assessment on-field within 10 seconds.