UltraVision is a handheld ultrasound-based diagnostic tool, similar to those employed in pregnancy to evaluate a developing fetus. The device is positioned at a person’s eye, revealing the structure of the optic nerve sheath and providing a robust noninvasive indication of brain health via the eye. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, I constructed prototypes for UltraVision in my home garage, managed a core team of 5 engineers, presented my prototype at the 2022 Big Sky Sports Medicine Conference, secured funding through a VentureWell E-Team grant, and won second place at the 2020 Biomedical Engineering Society-Medtronic Design Competition. Most importantly, the device works—it not only captured the attention of professionals in this field but also contributes to our broader community through the potential to prevent repeat concussions in contact sports.
Collaborators: Praveen R., Kamalesh A., Karan S., Udit I., Kevin Y.
It is well documented that concussions, or mild traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), are not only common but are compounded by repeat injury, leading to irreversible downstream effects in athletes’ lives. I immersed myself in the scientific literature and identified a correlation between optic nerve sheath diameter and intracranial pressure—a common TBI indicator. Recognizing the eye’s unique advantage as a relatively transmissive tissue, I saw the potential to use ocular diagnostic tools to gain insights into the brain. This idea led to my invention of UltraVision, a rapid noninvasive device designed to quantitatively assess concussion severity.