Brain injury specialists, Acquired Brain Injury Ireland (ABI Ireland ), have developed and launched a concussion application for smartphones with the support of Medtronic, one of the world’s largest medical technology, services, and solutions companies.
The details of the app were announced recently by Medtronic and ABI at the Medtronic campus in Athlone. The app is designed to help coaches, team physicians, parents and other qualified healthcare professionals recognise and respond to a concussed player following a knock to the head. Sponsored by Medtronic, the concussion education app named Concussion Smart is a portable, convenient and field-ready smartphone-based application; the app can be used to consider the likelihood of a concussion through an assessment that helps evaluate concussion signs and symptoms.
In an effort to provide as accurate an assessment as possible, the assessment questions produced in the app are designed to coincide with the standardised concussion tool SCAT3. Speaking at the launch, Costantino Cagimanolis, plant manager at Medtronic Athlone, said: “I am very pleased to be launching the Concussion Smart app in Athlone. The app is a tool that harnesses the power of the digital age to help parents and sports coaches recognise the signs of suspected concussion. Medtronic is a global leader in medical technology.
“We push the boundaries of innovation to help people live better, longer lives. Here in Ireland, where we employ some 4,000 people in Dublin, Galway, Tullamore, and Athlone, Medtronic is changing how debilitating, chronic diseases and conditions are treated and managed. So, it is fitting that, in the era of disruptive healthcare innovation, Medtronic would support the Concussion Smart app. I hope that everyone shares the news of the availability of the app widely and that we increase awareness of the dangers of concussion through its launch.”
Concussion Smart is available to download for free in the App Store (IOS ) and will be available in the Google Play Store (Android ) in the coming weeks. This app is a screening tool and not a diagnosis tool. Parents, coaches, and even players themselves should not delay or disregard seeking medical advice from a doctor or other medical professional, in addition to using the information provided within this app. For more information see www.abiireland.ie
