Near-infrared imaging technology that measures oxygenation in the cerebral cortex is also being applied to visualize oxygen flow through the lungs. There is an urgent need for this device to be portable and capable of rapidly assessing blast-related pulmonary dysfunction. This is due to bombings and explosions being a primary terroristic method as well as industrial accidents such as gas explosions. When an explosion occurs, the surrounding area is subjected to blast pressure waves. This blast pressure can cause severe lung injury that can go undetected in the field but have life-threatening consequences.

A similar, if not identical, instrument has far reaching implications in diagnosing, monitoring, and treating the various forms of lung disease. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) offers the potential to spatially identify areas of pulmonary dysfunction, the presence of foreign bodies within the lungs, and at the same time provide breathing and cardiac frequency information. This project is funded by a DARPA Phase I SBIR.