Bench Press

Like my fellow Bench Press blogger Ben, I’m a fairly avid Star Trek fan. Having spent many hours during my formative years watching syndicated episodes I always wondered if we’d ever have some of the amazing devices in the show. One of the devices that captured my imagination was the Tricorder (pictured right). It amazed me that such a tiny device could provide so much utility throughout the show. The Tricorder’s versatility allowed it to do pretty much anything in the show, but what I always remembered was it’s medical utility. It allowed characters like “the Doctor” to analyze any number of ailments quickly and accurately.

While we don’t have the technology to make a Tricorder as effective as the ones used in Star Trek, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is developing a tool called the Standoff Patient Triage Tool (SPTT). The purpose of the SPTT is to aid first responders at a disaster triage patients quickly and accurately. Triaging patients with traditional methods can take 3-5 minutes per person. This can become an extremely difficult and time intensive task during a disaster, exactly the opposite of what we’d like. Therefore, the goal of the SPTT is to reduce triage time to 30 seconds per patient by providing accurate readings of pulse, body temperature, and respiration from up to twenty paces away all in a portable package about the size of a legal notebook.

A drawing of the proposed 15 inch by 8.5 inch x 6 inch Standoff Patient Triage Tool (SPTT) with the following features. 1) 4 x 6 display window; 2) Control button; 3) Infrared camera window; 4) Visible camera window; 5) Ranging subassembly window; 6) Shock bumpers. (Source: DHS S&T)

The SPTT takes advantage of Laser Doppler Vibrometry (LDV) in conjunction with a visual and infrared camera to make it’s readings. LDV takes advantage of the doppler shift produced when a laser bounces off a moving target. The shift in frequency upon return of the laser beam is measured and then analyzed in order to determine the velocity over time of the target. In this case, the SPTT’s vibrometer detects the movement of blood vessels and utilizes algorithms to extrapolate relevant data. So far researchers have found that the SPTT can produce strong readings from the head, chest, abdomen and foot. Currently, taking readings from the cartoid artery region of the neck appears to be the best option. Further testing needs to be done on patients in awkward positions, as well as with differing layers of clothing.

While the SPTT can’t do everything a tricorder can do, it appears to be taking a great first step in providing a portable device capable of providing first responders with accurate job critical data that will help them save lives. Maybe it’s only a matter of time before doctors start waving a small device around the patients while asking them what brings them into the office that day.

(Image Source)(DHS S&T Press Release)