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<\/p>\nA new study will assess whether a targeted cooling collar can improve patients’ recovery from traumatic brain injuries.<\/p>\n
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Addenbrooke’s Hospital, said it would be the “world’s first in-human study” to measure the “pioneering medical device”.<\/p>\n
Various methods of “brain cooling” – or induced hypothermia – can be used to limit swelling in the brain when someone suffers a stroke or head injury.<\/p>\n
However, if cooling affects the whole body it can cause “systemic side effects” that “complicate recovery”, the trust said.<\/p>\n
The cooling collar, named CB240 Aurora, is applied around the neck.<\/p>\n
It is a “selective temperature-control device” that aims to lower brain temperature in a more targeted way.<\/p>\n
The system is portable and could therefore be used outside hospital settings such as roadsides or sporting events.<\/p>\n
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Addenbrooke’s Hospital plans to enrol 20 brain injury patients this year to test the brain cooling collar [CUH NHS Foundation Trust]<\/p>\n
“The CB240 Aurora is designed to minimise systemic side-effects associated with conventional whole-body cooling strategies such as body-surface or intravascular cooling devices,” the trust said.<\/p>\n
“These systemic effects may include immune suppression and chest infections, reported to complicate recovery and offset potential benefits of therapeutic temperature control.”<\/p>\n
The trial will get under way this month at Addenbrooke’s<\/a> under the Neurosciences and Trauma Critical Care teams. The hospital specialises in the treatment of brain injuries and tumours.<\/p>\n Twenty patients with severe traumatic brain injury are expected to be enrolled over 12 months in the study, named SELETHERM 2.<\/p>\n Half will be randomised to receive selective brain cooling with the collar for the first 72 hours, while the remainder will receive standard current therapies.<\/p>\n Dr Andrea Lavinio (pictured) is leading the study with support from Dr Alex Joannides and Dr Edward Needham [CUH NHS Foundation Trust]<\/p>\n Dr Andrea Lavinio, who is leading the study, is also a minority shareholder in Neuron Guard S.R.L, the company that developed the prototypes.<\/p>\n He said: “In traumatic brain injury, hypothermia has long been considered a potentially neuroprotective strategy, but large clinical trials have not demonstrated a consistent benefit.<\/p>\n “One possible explanation is that the side-effects associated with whole-body cooling may outweigh any neuroprotective effects.<\/p>\n “This pilot study will assess whether selective, brain-directed temperature control can be delivered while minimising systemic effects.”<\/p>\n James Piercy, who suffered a severe head injury after a road accident in 2011, has advised on the study from a patient’s perspective.<\/p>\n He said: “I’m really excited to help the HealthTech Research Centre support technologies like this.<\/p>\n “Reducing the risk of the secondary injuries produced by brain swelling can dramatically improve people’s chances of a good quality of life after an accident.”<\/p>\n Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds<\/a>, Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a> and X<\/a>.<\/p>\n Related internet links![\"Dr](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/94e06aff07c74a8148ec4cbf585da396.jpeg\"\/)
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