Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Science and Engineering Perspective

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), directly related to chronic traumatic encephalopathy, presents a crisis in contact sports, the military, and elsewhere. This book reviews current understanding of mTBI, methods of diagnosis, treatment, policy concerns, and emerging technologies. This book details the neurophysiology and-epidemiology of brain injuries by presenting disease models and descriptions of nucleating events. This book characterizes sensors, imagers, and related diagnostic measures used for evaluating and identifying brain injuries and relates emerging bioinformatics analysis with mTBI markers. This book goes on to discuss issues with sports medicine and military issues; covers therapeutic strategies, surgeries, and future developments; and finally addresses drug trials and candidates for therapy. The broad coverage and accessible discussions will appeal to professionals in diverse fields related to mTBI, students of neurology, medicine, and biology, as well as policy makers and lay persons interested in this hot topic. Summarizes the entire scope of the field of mTBI Details the neurophysiology, epidemiology, and presents disease models and descriptions of nucleating events Characterizes sensors, imagers, and related diagnostic measures and relates emerging bioinformatics analysis with mTBI markers Discusses issues with sports medicine and military issues Covers therapeutic strategies, surgeries, and future developments and addresses drug trials and candidates Dr. Mark Mentzer received his PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Delaware. He is a former research scientist at the US Army Research Laboratory where he studied mild traumatic brain injury and developed early-detection brain injury helmet sensors. He is a certified test director and contracting officer representative. He possesses two Level-III Defense Acquisition University Certifications in Science and Technology Management and in Test and Evaluation. During his career, he developed a wide range of sensors and instrumentation as well as biochemical processes to assess brain trauma. Mentzer currently teaches graduate systems engineering and computer science courses at the University of Maryland University College.