Pa. company demonstrates new test for concussions

Concussions have fast become a major concern for athletes at all levels. That's why a Pennsylvania company is testing new technology that aims to find them faster - and more quickly.

The MindReader was created by Lehigh Valley company Cerora, Inc. It aims to objectively answer three key questions about head injuries for student-athletes: Does the individual have a concussion? Are they ready to return to play? When are they ready to get back into the classroom?

Many schools use imPACT testing, a computerized test comparing an athlete's mental abilities after a head injury with a baseline performance.

However, there are reports that some players intentionally do poorly on the baseline test, so a concussion will be harder to detect.

The imPACT test can also be open to interpretation by the tester.

There's no cheating with MindReader - it measures brain waves, comparing those from activities before a concussion to those after a hit to the head.

"It has a single active LED that sits on the forehead and two contacts that go in the ear. It goes on very quickly, in a couple seconds," said Adam Simon, president and CEO of Cerora, Inc.

Jack Foley is Lehigh University's sports medicine chief. He's wanted to try something to reduce the guesswork on concussions.

"To provide a stand-alone and/or definitive objective measure. So I said, 'I'm in.' We, in the past, could only say, 'How are you feeling? Are you sure? Are you absolutely positive that you want to go back? How are you doing in the classroom?'" said Foley.

The MindReader is portable, so it can be used just off the playing field.

A standard EEG has to be done in a hospital or clinic.

Lehigh's sports teams were invited to test MindReader, and many athletes have volunteered.

"We have 830 to date, and we've been involved with 36 concussed, along with control subjects, over the past two years," said Foley.

The maker of MindReader says it was originally developed to help provide a better diagnosis for Alzheimers disease. Beyond brain injuries, it's being tested for autism, Parkinson's disease and other brain disorders.

While the device is still in the testing phase but the maker of MindReader says the company plans to submit its research to the FDA later this year or early next year.