A PORTABLE ultrasound scanner could save soldiers’ lives by better detecting “closed” head injuries such as bleeding on the brain.

Experts at the University of Aberdeen are working on the technology with the Ministry of Defence’s Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) to create a 3D model of the brain on location which can then be sent to an expert for quick diagnosis.

The aim of the project is to better diagnose head injuries among soldiers caused by explosions or knocks.

With the technology the ultrasound image is captured using a movement sensor attached to an ultrasound probe which is used to scan the brain from certain points on the skull where the bone is thinnest.

The university said the probe captures up to 40 images per second and the resulting 3D image can be built up from around 2,000 individual photos.

The software is designed to guide a medic with only basic training in ultrasound to produce as detailed a scan of the brain as possible.

Once completed, the file containing the brain scan can be sent to an expert for analysis. Researchers working on the project said soldiers with unseen head injuries can be overlooked in battlefield scenarios leading to physical and mental health problems in later life.

Neal Smith, DSTL capability adviser, said: “UK Armed Forces operate in many remote locations and where personnel are injured we need to ensure that all conditions can be rapidly and correctly diagnosed to provide the best possible treatment and care.

“Devices which are lightweight, easy to deploy and easy to use, such as the portable ultrasound scanning support system being developed by the University of Aberdeen, have the potential to enhance our capabilities on operations and enhance patient care.”

Dr Leila Eadie, a researcher at the Centre for Rural Health at the University of Aberdeen, said: “There is a clear need for this technology, as outlined by DSTL. Traumatic brain injury is a big problem for the military, especially because it can be difficult to spot in the field and if left untreated, it can have long-term effects.

“Battlefield medics will not have CT or MRI scanners which are bulky and expensive, but they are likely to have ultrasound equipment already.”