New York: In good news for athletes or cricketers who suffer concussion on the field, a team of doctors and engineers has developed a noninvasive way to measure whether brain cells are in distress using an infrared laser. The device uses optical fibers to deliver pulses of infrared light to a person's forehead. This light can penetrate through the skin and skull to the brain without doing harm, interacting with an important molecule for metabolism called cytochrome C oxidase, or CCO. While existing technology can give real-time information on whether the brain is getting oxygen, this new device gives information about whether the brain cells are able to use that oxygen, said researchers from University of Michigan.

This could enable concussions to be diagnosed on the sidelines of the game, while also providing rapid feedback as doctors adjust treatment. "At present, there is no one test that can diagnose a concussion. There's no scan, no blood test, no computer test," said Steven Broglio, director of the Michigan Concussion Center and professor, athletic training. According to Rachel Russo, a trauma and emergency surgeon and clinical lecturer, this device could guide the treatment of more serious brain injuries and other conditions that put the brain at risk.