Eye tracking device to diagnose concussions on the sidelines

Photo and Video contribution by Thomas Hawthorne
Eye tracking technology has been used for nearly everything from tracking strokes to researching drivers’ behaviors. Now, thanks to Scottsdale-based startup Saccadous, that emerged out of the ASU Furnace program, their mobile eye tracking technology can help diagnose concussions wherever they may happen.

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As the public becomes more educated about traumatic brain injuries (TBI’s) and the risks leading up to them, more incidents are being reported from the gridiron to the battlefield.
The U.S. Army reported nearly 20,000 TBI incidents yearly between 2008-2012, according to the Department of Defense.
Emergency rooms across the U.S. have seen a yearly increase of TBI incidents from 2001-2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Read: Saccadous teams up with Eyetech
Eye tracking technology can assist coaches, players and even our troops diagnose someone if they received a concussion, this way they can be treated immediately and have a chance at avoiding long-term effects.
Saccadous filed a provisional patent for their eye tracking device, which tracks the involuntary motion of the eye to help diagnose TBI’s, concussions, drug use, fatigue and other ailments, co-founder and CEO Craig Caffarelli said.
The eye tracking camera can be attached to a mobile device such as a tablet, Caffarelli said, which would be ideal for use on the battlefield or football field.
“If a player got hit on a football game,” Caffarelli said, “We can scan their eyes and see if it matches the prior baseline or if it showed signs of the subject having a concussion.”
Saccadous is currently in the prototype phase and they showcased some of their devices at this year’s CES with their partner Eyetech Digital.  They plan to sell the device when it is marketable for around $1,000, Caffarellis said.
Read more coverage about eye tracking technology coming out of AZ and from CES at AZTB