Reducing brain injury by limiting brain motion during sudden deceleration or acceleration of the head

Abstract

A brain injury reduction system provides a protective measure to reduce severity of brain injury caused by collision or blast. A sensing device of the system detects an impending or occurring event (e.g., collision or blast) in an environment surrounding the individual and sends information about the event to a controller of the system. The sensing device can be stationary or moves with the individual. Based on the information, the controller determines whether the event will likely cause brain injury to the individual. If so, the controller sends an instruction to an actuation device of the system to activate the protective measure. The actuation device uses transcutaneous electrodes to electrically simulate glottis closure and contraction of the abdominal musculature to induce a Valsalva-like maneuver. The Valsalva-like maneuver can increases the stiffness of the brain tissues in the intracranial compartment, and thus reduces the susceptibility of the brain tissues to deformation.