- Oranges, your x-raying oranges.
- I thought you'd like that.
(Bill chuckles) I've got a grower's collective
up north that wants a machine to sort out the bad ones.
X-rays show the bruises inside, but I'm still trying
to figure out how to cover every angle.
Yeah, you know, comprehensive imagery of organic tissue
is hard not to crack, plus with the amount of oranges
they need like a thousand machines.
- That seems like a lot, just for orange juice?
- (chuckling) Indeed. (Bill laughing)
- Ah, I'm late for a patient, it was good to see you Eli.
- Same to you, Bill.
(hospital chime beeping)
- You should roll them.
- What?
- The oranges, roll them through the x-ray.
- Oh, yeah, good idea.
(machine clicking on) (upbeat music)
- Headaches.
They're all the time.
- And the memory loss?
- Yeah.
- Okay, so with the shelling you took in Okinawa,
it's likely these symptoms are due to hematomas.
- Hematomas?
- Yeah, bruises on your brain.
Look, Jim, these x-rays aren't giving us enough information.
If we don't get a good look at your brain to determine
what's going on it's likely these symptoms you're having
could worsen and very quickly.
- I better off on my own.
- Jim.
(intense music)
(light clicks on)
(rhythmic music)
- The invention of the CT scan was critical
for understanding brain injury, but in many cases
brain injury doesn't show up on a CT scan.
The problem we're mainly targeting
in this particular project has to do with challenges
with near vision after TBI concussion.
Things might be blurry, they might lose their place
on the page while they're trying to read,
and this can be really challenging
for tasks related to schoolwork or employment.
Our virtual reality equipment now has the ability
to see how the differences in their eye movement,
control and coordination,
relate to the symptoms that they're experiencing.
What we can do with VR is make
that a much more interactive experience.
We design games to treat these problems.
- What they'll do is put on a virtual reality headset
and they'll hold onto a controller
and we will show them a series of apps.
- [Dr. Walker] We can kind of set it at the level
of each person's own problem and deficit.
- Few of my grandparents had strokes.
I was very close with my grandparents.
I think unfortunately, I wasn't able to do anything for them
but I hope through my work
I can benefit others who are affected by brain injury.
(somber music)
- [Dr. Walker] It's really about an opportunity
to help people who've served and given their lives
and make their life better.
- I was in combatives, it was on the first day.
Another gentleman picked me up and slammed me
on the back of my head, I lost a lot of memory.
(somber music)
After the incident, when I transitioned from different
levels of light my eyes are physically painful.
Sometimes my eyes don't focus at all.
Right now I am studying anatomy
and physiology and medical terminology.
It takes a lot longer for me to remember
and understand what I'm learning.
I try to concentrate
and then I'll get a headache or stressed out.
With hopes to get into the radiology technician program,
I have to get help so I could meet their requirements.
(upbeat music)
Dr. Walker had mentioned the VR
when he asked me to be a part of it.
Truthfully, my initial thought was no way.
I get to be involved so we can perfect the therapy.
I wanna help other people 'cause I know it's a struggle.
I am eager to see other veterans participating,
trying to reach an end goal of just the happiness.
- I hope we can make the assessment
and treatment of ocular dysfunction
after traumatic brain injury very much available.
- So that veterans are able to read, to do their schoolwork,
to get the employment that they want and deserve.
(triumphant music)
- I want people to be more aware
of the injuries that you don't see.
I just feel it in my heart
that I know that I should be here,
I should be working Dr. Walker and Dr. Fu
and we can make something big out of this.
(upbeat music)