Decompression sickness can be fatal, but instead of waiting for symptoms to appear, Kirill Larin, assistant professor of biomedical engineering and mechanical engineering, is developing a laser based system that can diagnose the sickness in a matter of seconds. Using a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Navy, Larin, in collaboration with The University of Texas Health Science Center, is developing the first optical, noninvasive tool to test for decompression sickness in persons—such as scuba divers, submariners, and pilots—who are most likely to suffer from the illness. Larin’s laser locates the presence of nitrogen gas—or microbubbles—in blood and tissues. These microbubbles can restrict blood flow throughout the body—causing damage. If microbubbles are spotted, medical steps, such as spending time in a decompression chamber, could be taken before decompression symptoms appear.