Opinion: Faster concussion diagnoses are on the horizon. Patent filings offer a peek

Exactly what repeated concussions do to the brain is a hotly debated question at the forefront of national discussion. The billion-dollar settlement with the National Football League and landmark studies about the prevalence of a serious form of brain damage known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy among NFL athletes have alarmed many that the demise of American football — all the way from the professional level to youth sports — may be on the horizon.

In the United States, an estimated occur each year during competitive sports and recreational activities. It is difficult, if not impossible, to accurately diagnose these injuries immediately after they occur. Rapid detection is important because an athlete suspected of having a concussion should immediately stop playing, seek medical attention, and rest until symptoms subside completely.