A special brain wave cap can diagnose a stroke in an ambulance, in order that the patient receives appropriate treatment faster. Jonathan Coutinho, a neurologist at Amsterdam UMC, is one in every of the inventors of the swimming cap: “Our research shows that a brainwave-based cap can recognize patients with a big ischemic stroke with high accuracy. This is superb news since the cap could ultimately save lives by directing these patients on to the suitable hospital.” The study results were published today within the journal Neurology.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of individuals world wide experience ischemic stroke, essentially the most common form of stroke. An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel within the brain, causing a part of the brain to receive no or insufficient blood. Prompt treatment is crucial to stop everlasting disability or death.

Neurologist Jonathan Coutinho, technical doctor Wouter Potters and professor of radiology Henk Marquering, all from Amsterdam UMC, invented a brain wave cap that permits EEG (brain wave testing) to be performed in an ambulance. This brainwave test shows whether an ischemic stroke has occurred and whether the blocked blood vessel within the brain is large or small. This distinction determines the tactic of treatment: within the case of a small ischemic stroke, the patient is given a blood-thinning drug, and within the case of a giant ischemic stroke, the clot have to be removed mechanically in a specialized hospital.

Within the case of a stroke, time is literally the brain. The earlier we start proper treatment, the higher the effect. If the diagnosis is already clear within the ambulance, the patient may be directed on to the suitable hospital, saving worthwhile time.”

Jonathan Coutinho, neurologist

Between 2018 and 2022, the smart brainwave cap was tested in twelve Dutch ambulances based on data collected from almost 400 patients. The study shows that the brain wave cap can recognize patients with large ischemic stroke with high accuracy. “This study shows that the brainwave cap works well within the ambulance. For instance, due to the scale of the cap, we will distinguish between large and small ischemic strokes,” adds Coutinho.

To show the brainwave cap right into a product and produce it to market, a TrianecT spin-off company, the Amsterdam-based UMC, was established in 2022. As well as, a follow-up study (AI-STROKE) is currently underway. by which much more measurements are collected to develop an algorithm to higher recognize major ischemic stroke within the ambulance. The Dutch Heart Foundation also recognized the importance of this research and made available €4 million for large-scale research into faster treatment for ischemic stroke.