What is the new mobile brain scanner for UK troops?

It's the world's first mobile head scanner built by UK scientists to assess the effects of bomb blast exposure on military personnel.

When will the UK's mobile blast injury scanner be ready?

The £3.1m scanner is expected to be operational by March 31, 2026.

How will the UK's mobile brain scanner help soldiers?

It will provide direct, real-time assessment of blast exposure effects on the brain, improving protection and recovery strategies for service personnel.

Home / Health / UK Troops Get Mobile Brain Scanners for Blast Injuries

UK Troops Get Mobile Brain Scanners for Blast Injuries

2 Dec, 2025

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Summary

UK scientists are building the world's first mobile head scanner.
The scanner will assess the effects of bomb blasts on military personnel.
The £3.1m device is expected to be operational by March 2026.

UK Troops Get Mobile Brain Scanners for Blast Injuries

British military personnel will soon benefit from the world's first mobile battlefield brain scanner. Developed by UK scientists, this innovative £3.1 million device is designed to assess the effects of exposure to combat blast waves on soldiers, sailors, and air personnel.

The non-invasive magnetoencephalography scanner, expected to be operational by March 2026, will deploy directly to military ranges, field hospitals, and rehabilitation centers. This capability is crucial as thousands of troops may suffer from mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) due to repeated exposure to blast overpressure from their own weaponry.

This medical breakthrough, a collaboration between the University of Nottingham, University of Birmingham, and Cerca Magnetics, promises to revolutionize understanding of blast exposure's neurological effects. Beyond military applications, it may also aid research into sports concussion, dementia, and epilepsy, enhancing protections for both service members and wider society.