BrainScope commercializes an FDA‑cleared handheld device that integrates brain‑activity biomarkers to rapidly rule out the need for head CT scans and objectively assess concussion in about 15 minutes. The company reports its technology has demonstrated an average 50% reduction in unnecessary head CT scans and patient length of stay. BrainScope is developing an AI/ML‑derived brain‑activity biomarker to predict future onset of Alzheimer’s and is evaluating whether its trauma‑related brain bleed biomarker can detect ARIAs to reduce reliance on serial MRI scans. It is pursuing collaboration partnerships with Alzheimer’s‑focused drug companies to support clinical trial patient selection or serve as a companion diagnostic. BrainScope also sees future opportunities in sports concussion assessment and consumer wellness. The company is based in Bethesda, Md., and recently added three new board members to support these initiatives. BrainScope develops handheld, non-invasive medical devices for rapid, objective assessment of traumatic brain injury, beginning with its flagship BrainScope One. BrainScope One (FDA cleared as Ahead 300) uses EEG-based technology to measure brain electrical activity and neurocognitive function in mildly presenting adult patients 18–85 years old within three days of head injury, producing a panel of objective data to aid clinical diagnosis. The device targets markets including urgent care, occupational health, hospital emergency rooms, university and professional sports, and the U.S. military and government. The company’s platform integrates databases of thousands of brainwave recordings with advanced digital signal processing, algorithms, miniaturized hardware and disposable headset sensors, and is backed by an intellectual property portfolio of over 100 issued and pending patents. BrainScope has received multiple FDA clearances (four clearances cited) and ISO 13485:2003 certification, has partnered with the U.S. Department of Defense, and was an awardee of the GE‑NFL Head Health Challenge I. The company plans to use recent financing to support the commercial launch of BrainScope One and to fund continued research and development to broaden its product portfolio. BrainScope makes portable, FDA-cleared traumatic brain injury (TBI) assessment devices aimed at helping medical professionals triage and evaluate concussions. Its Ahead 100 device was cleared in November 2014; the Ahead 200 is a smaller, more rugged, FDA-cleared headpiece with EEG leads that connects to an Android smartphone running diagnostic software. The Ahead 200 is intended as a middle ground between a CT scan and questionnaire-based screening, offering greater portability and practicality for field use. The company is also developing an additional assessment device that has received significant support from the Department of Defense, GE, and the NFL. Financially, BrainScope raised $2.5 million in a recent financing and has brought total funding to at least $6.2 million to date; it has also been awarded $500,000 from GE and the NFL and more than $27 million in DoD research contracts. BrainScope builds a handheld concussion-detection device intended to diagnose cases without the use of neuroimaging. The company has conducted six years of studies on student athletes. Last year it was one of 16 finalists in the NFL Head Health Challenge I and received part of a combined $10 million fund, which enabled testing of the device. CEO Michael Singer said learnings from the first phase provide a foundation for the next phase of multi-site studies in high schools. With a new $500,000 award from GE and the NFL, BrainScope will continue testing the devices in high schools across the United States. BrainScope is a Bethesda-based startup that develops a handheld medical device to assist medical personnel in determining whether a person has suffered a traumatic brain injury, including concussion. The company’s technology targets improved diagnosis and prognosis of mild traumatic brain injury, a focus highlighted by the Health Challenge I awards. BrainScope was one of 16 companies to receive a piece of $16 million in the first round of those awards. The Health Challenge program was created through a partnership between General Electric and the National Football League in 2013. Separately, the company was the recipient of the first investment from Maryland’s $84 million InvestMaryland fund. The article does not report revenue, users, or other operating metrics.

Total raised

$35M

Funding rounds

6

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

Aug 2017