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Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a major public health challenge in India, causing high mortality, morbidity, and long-term disability. Traditional diagnostic tools like CT and MRI scans are costly, infrastructure-intensive, and often unavailable in rural or emergency settings.

To bridge this gap, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in collaboration with AIIMS Bhopal, NIMHANS Bengaluru, the Medical Device & Diagnostics Mission Secretariat (MDMS), and Bioscan Research, has developed CEREBO, a portable and indigenous diagnostic device.

What is CEREBO?

• Nature: A hand-held, portable, non-invasive device.
• Technology: Uses near-infrared spectroscopy integrated with machine learning.
• Function: Detects intracranial bleeding and brain edema within one minute.
• Accessibility: Designed for use by paramedics and unskilled personnel in ambulances, trauma centres, rural clinics, and disaster zones.
• Safety: Radiation-free, safe for infants and pregnant women.
• Output: Provides colour-coded, easy-to-interpret results.

Validation & Adoption

• Underwent multi-centre clinical trials at leading trauma and neurosurgical centres.
• Evaluated for diagnostic accuracy, time-to-decision benefits, and feasibility in emergency care pathways.
• Supported by ICMR-MDMS post-market surveillance confirming effectiveness in patient triage.
• Recommended for adoption in tertiary care hospitals, emergency services, and military healthcare.

Importance of CEREBO

• Addresses diagnostic gaps in rural and underserved areas.
• Enables early detection and triage, reducing fatalities and long-term complications.
• Provides a low-cost, rapid, and radiation-free alternative to CT/MRI scans.
• Potential for global adoption in emergency medicine, military operations, and disaster response.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) – A Public Health Concern

• Definition: Disruption of normal brain function due to sudden trauma to the head.
• Causes in India:
  • Road traffic accidents: ~60%
  • Falls: 20–25%
  • Violence: ~10%
• Incidence: ~1.5–2 million injuries annually; ~1 million deaths in India.
• Challenges: Mild TBIs often go undiagnosed initially, but may worsen over time.
• Consequences:
  • Immediate: Loss of consciousness, seizures, dizziness, confusion.
  • Complications: Intracranial bleeding, brain swelling, coma.
  • Long-term: Memory loss, cognitive decline, depression, behavioural changes, and risk of neurodegenerative diseases.