Smart Brain-Wave Cap Detects Stroke Before Hospitalization

In an ambulance, a particular brain-wave cap can diagnose stroke, allowing the patient to receive appropriate treatment sooner. “Our findings show that the brain-wave cap can accurately identify patients with large ischemic stroke.” This is fantastic news since the cap has the potential to save lives by directing patients to the appropriate hospital,” says Jonathan Coutinho, a neurologist at Amsterdam UMC and one of the swimming cap’s developers. Their findings were published today in the journal Neurology.

Millions of people worldwide suffer from ischemic strokes, the most frequent type of stroke, each year. An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot stops a blood vessel in the brain, resulting in inadequate or insufficient blood flow to a portion of the brain. Prompt treatment is critical in order to avoid permanent impairment or death.

The brain-wave cap was designed by Neurologist Jonathan Coutinho, Technical Physician Wouter Potters, and professor of Radiology Henk Marquering of Amsterdam UMC. It permits an EEG (brain wave test) to be performed in an ambulance. This brain wave test determines whether an ischemic stroke has occurred and whether the blocked cerebral blood artery is large or tiny.

The treatment is determined by this distinction: in the event of a mild ischemic stroke, the patient is given a blood thinner, and in the case of a major ischemic stroke, the blood clot must be removed mechanically in a specialized hospital. “Time is literally brain when it comes to stroke.” The earlier we begin the appropriate treatment, the better the outcome. If the diagnosis is clearly obvious in the ambulance, the patient can be directed immediately to the appropriate hospital, saving important time,” Coutinho explains.

The smart brain-wave cap was tested in twelve Dutch ambulances between 2018 and 2022, with data from over 400 patients recorded. According to the findings, the brain-wave cap may accurately identify patients suffering from a massive ischemic stroke. “This research demonstrates that the brain-wave cap works well in an ambulance setting.” “For example, we can distinguish between a large and small ischemic stroke using cap measurements,” Coutinho continues.

TrianecT, an Amsterdam UMC spin-off firm, was created in 2022 to develop the brain-wave cap into a product and bring it to market. In addition, a follow-up study (AI-STROKE) is currently underway to collect further data in order to develop an algorithm for enhanced identification of a massive ischemic stroke in the ambulance. The Dutch Heart Foundation has also recognized the significance of this finding, allocating 4 million euros for large-scale research into speedier treatment of ischemic stroke.

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