Comment by superails | Hacker News Reader

Comment by superails | Hacker News Reader

It's highly doubtful the example mentioned (checked brain waves after an injury) is something EMT's are dying to have available in a portable format. Checking brain waves regularly as part of triage of head injury by an EMT is unlikely, imo. Less technical triage methods work fine.

Other than perhaps some use in doctors without borders, the only really useful brain activity that could be recorded with anything close to $30 worth of tech would be during sleep.

I had a few sleep studies several years ago; the electrodes were really not comfortable because of all of the wires. If that $30 sensor could be hooked to an iPhone and came with 8-10 reusable wireless electrodes (though hopefully it would only take 2-4) that were comfortable to wear while sleeping- and in the morning it could give me the amount of time in each stage of sleep- that might sell.

I suspect DARPA wants brain sensors in every Advanced Combat Helmet. Add some accelerometers and impact sensors and you could start to collect all sorts of interesting data--biomarkers for TBI, perhaps even early predictors of PTSD.

To take it a step further, once you're equipping soldiers with sensors, you have the ability to build workflows around the data. You'll assign medical teams to people as the damage occurs, and have them standing by when the person returns with all the data necessary to perform whatever treatment is required.

Yes, per the post we're discussing: "Including EEGs in basic military first aid kits would also help with both medical diagnostics and clinical care for deployed soldiers"

However, unlike what the parent comment said, brain waves on the field are not going to be used in the short-term to diagnose PTSD. Potential uses of sensors in the helmet would be:

1. Control of other devices (and this better be wired, or the enemy could really screw with wireless).

2. Feedback/stats about the resource in question, e.g. he just got blown up, is his brain still working?, OR these guys just got hit with nerve gas.

The company Zeo made a product that did this (Zeo Mobile). It was a headband with 3 sensors on it, and it connected to your phone via bluetooth. It works great. Unfortunately they recently went out of business and took their site down, but you can probably still find them on eBay.

The sad thing is the dry electrodes are considered expendable. They're no longer available. It does look like some people have been able to replace the pads and headband using fabric, though.

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