IMPROVED STROKE DETECTION

Strokes are a leading cause of death in the U.S., but researchers are finding ways to improve survival rates with early detection.

When a stroke happens, time is of the essence. However, because the stroke-like symptoms can be caused by other, less serious conditions, it becomes imperative for physicians to confirm that the patient has indeed experienced this potentially life-threating medical event. CT scans are usually performed, but they are not conclusive. And MRIs are costly and not typically available for such an emergency situation. Meanwhile, lifesaving minutes tick away.

Recently, a team from Johns Hopkins Medicine developed a cheaper, more accurate solution that has so far performed better than CT scans and MRI exams in recognizing strokes. The system uses special goggles to track eye movements while a clinician performs head impulse testing (HIT), which requires moving the patient’s head from side to side while he or she looks at a stationary object. The goggles are connected to a webcam and laptop that records video of the eyeballs. For example, if a patient is complaining of dizziness, the video will show the eyes just wandering off if it is just dizziness. If the dizziness is caused by a stroke, the eyes will stay focused on the fixed target.

According to developer Dr. David Newman-Toker, the test is 99 percent accurate in determining the cause of symptoms. Doctors hope to prevent the misdiagnosis of as many as 100,000 strokes a year.

Stopping Strokes Before They Strike

Diagnosing a stroke when it happens is important, but detecting a stroke before it occurs greatly improves a patient’s chance to survive. Thanks to the efforts of an Israeli start-up, a solution for rapid stroke treatment may become a reality.

The start-up Neurokeeper has created a prototype, wearable head device that may transform how strokes are detected and treated. Using technology similar to that found in the common electroencephalogram (EEG), the monitor, which costs around $200, observes the brainwaves of people at risk of stroke and compares the incoming information against an algorithm. The system then checks for discrepancies that could signal a stroke event. For people who have already suffered from a stroke and those who suffer from carotid stenosis — a narrowing of the carotid artery that is the main blood vessel running to the brain — this device could be a great way to identify early warnings of an approaching stroke at home. As a result, individuals could seek early medical treatment and improve their chances of survival.

Currently, several devices are available for stroke monitoring; however, Neurokeeper CEO Shay Bar-Haim says none of them can claim to be portable and highly affordable. In addition, the Neurokeeper device can continuously monitor the patient and give a picture of the whole brain, which would be helpful to physicians.

Neurokeeper hopes to be able to conduct a large-scale clinical trial, which, if successful, may allow the company to apply for U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance by the end of 2014.