Groundbreaking brain cooling collar trial could improve recovery chances after serious injury
A world-first clinical study is underway at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge that could transform how traumatic brain injuries are treated and how their long-term consequences are understood.
Scientists are assessing a new “brain cooling” collar, applied around the neck, to examine whether it can limit brain swelling after serious head injuries. The device, known as the CB240 Aurora, works by cooling blood flowing through the arteries in the neck, and lowering brain temperature.
Previous studies have investigated deliberate whole-body cooling to try and limit brain damage in people with severe head injuries. But conditions including pneumonia have been recognised as a potential side effect.
The new collar aims to deliver the benefits of cooling while avoiding these risks.
One of the most significant aspects of this technology is its potential for use far outside a hospital setting, such as at the scene of road accidents or at sporting events. Some of the most catastrophic brain injuries occur in the critical minutes between an accident and a patient reaching hospital. If treatment can begin at the scene of a road traffic collision, a workplace accident, or a sporting incident, the potential to reduce long-term disability could be significant.
When a person injures their head, swelling or bleeding around the brain can increase pressure within the skull, which can restrict blood supply or lead to brain damage. The long-term impacts of traumatic brain injury can vary widely in severity but can include thinking, functional, behavioural and emotional difficulties.
It is precisely these long-term consequences – cognitive impairment, personality change, impact on working, care needs – that form the core of serious brain injury claims. Establishing the full extent of such injuries, often with the help of neuropsychological experts, is central to ensuring injured clients receive the compensation they need to fund their care and rebuild their lives.
Developments like this collar study show the medical science around brain injury is still evolving. As treatment options improve, so too does our understanding of what recovery can look like with the right studies and interventions.
