A groundbreaking brain-wave cap has been developed, allowing for the diagnosis of strokes to be made in ambulances. This innovative technology is set to save countless lives by enabling patients to receive appropriate treatment at a much faster rate. The cap, created by a team of inventors led by neurologist Jonathan Coutinho at Amsterdam UMC, has the potential to accurately recognize patients suffering from large ischemic strokes. The research, which has been published in Neurology, highlights the cap’s ability to route these patients directly to hospitals equipped to provide the necessary care.
Ischemic strokes are the most common type of stroke, affecting millions of individuals worldwide every year. They occur when blood clots hinder the flow of blood to the brain, resulting in certain areas of the brain not receiving enough oxygen. The prompt administration of treatment is crucial in order to prevent lasting disabilities or fatalities.
Coutinho, alongside Technical Physician Wouter Potters and Professor of Radiology Henk Marquering, developed the brain-wave cap. This cap allows for an electroencephalogram (EEG), a test that measures brain activity, to be conducted in an ambulance. By performing this test, the cap is able to determine whether a patient has suffered an ischemic stroke and can differentiate between cases involving large or small blocked cerebral blood vessels. This knowledge is vital, as it dictates the appropriate treatment course. For patients with small ischemic strokes, the cap can facilitate the administration of blood thinners, while patients with large ischemic strokes may require the mechanical removal of blood clots at specialized hospitals.
To ensure its effectiveness, the smart brain-wave cap underwent testing in twelve Dutch ambulances between 2018 and 2022. Data was collected from nearly 400 patients, and the results proved that the cap excelled in identifying individuals with large ischemic strokes. Coutinho stresses the significance of these findings, as they demonstrate the cap’s efficacy in a real-world ambulance setting.
TrianecT, a spin-off company from Amsterdam UMC, was established in 2022 to develop the brain-wave cap into a marketable product. Additionally, an ongoing follow-up study known as AI-STROKE aims to gather even more measurements in order to refine the cap’s algorithm for improved recognition of large ischemic strokes during ambulance transport. The Dutch Heart Foundation has recognized the importance of this research and has generously contributed 4 million euros towards further investigation into expediting the treatment of ischemic strokes.
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- Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
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