Microwave Helmet radar 'Strokefinder' makes rapid stroke diagnoses

'Strokefinder' helmet makes rapid stroke diagnoses - Medical News Today

A helmet that uses microwaves to examine brain tissue has been found to accurately diagnose the type of stroke that a patient has suffered. If developed, the device could lead to early and correct diagnosis of stroke and may improve treatment for what is currently the 4th highest cause of death in the US.

Can a 'microwave helmet' really detect strokes? - Health News - NHS Choices
In the studies, when the cut-off was set to identify all haemorrhagic strokes, some people with ischaemic strokes were misclassified. But the researchers hope that information from a larger data-set from an ongoing clinical study will allow them to better differentiate between the two.
This early stage research is encouraging, but further work is required before NHS ambulances are equipped with “microwave helmets” for people who may have had strokes.

Microwave Helmet Could Diagnose Strokes As Patients Ride To Hospital : Shots - Health News : NPR
The Strokefinder prototype consists of an array of 12 antennas arranged around the head like a helmet. One by one, each antenna beams a low-power microwave signal through the skull, and the other 11 detect how the signal has changed after passing through the brain. The device then analyzes the microwave patterns to detect cranial bleeding. The whole process takes only a few seconds.
Doctors now rely on of the brain to spot clots or bleeding, but precious time is wasted transporting patients to hospitals where these bulky machines are located. "The ultimate goal is to give treatment in the ambulance because so many brain cells are dying each second," says Persson.

Watch "London Calling - Microwave Helmet Will Help Save Stroke Victims" Video at Engineering TV

Pictured is the prototype of Strokefinder used in the patient studies at Sahlgrenska University Hospital. Presently, a mobile stroke helmet is being completed and will be used for testing the equipment in ambulances.
Pictured from left:

• Jan Lundmark (Ambulans och Prehospital Akutsjukvård, SU), 
• Mikael Persson (professor i medicinsk teknik, Chalmers), 
• Mikael Elam (professor och överläkare i klinisk neurofysiologi), 
• Sandra Carlsson (forskningssjuksköterska, SU), 
• Miriam K Holmström (forskningssjuksköterska, SU), 
• Jan-Erik Karlsson (överläkare Neurologi/Stroke, SU).
  Photo: Henrik Mindedal

Strokefinder quickly differentiates bleeding strokes from clot-induced strokes
The results from the initial clinical studies involving the microwave helmet Strokefinder confirm the usefulness of microwaves for rapid and accurate diagnosis of stroke patients. This is shown in a scientific article published on Monday. Strokefinder enables earlier diagnosis than current methods, which improves the possibility to counteract brain damage. 

The prototype of Stroke Finder used in patient studies

Artists Concept of Stroke Finder locating stroke from blood clots

The antennas of the helmet transmits sequentially into weak microwave signals in the brain, while the receiving antennas listening for reflected signals. The brain's different structures and substances affect the microwave scattering and reflections in different ways. The received signals gives a complex pattern, which is interpreted with the help of advanced algorithms.

Strokefinder kan snabbt skilja hjärnblödning från blodpropp, visar klinisk studie

IEEE Xplore Abstract - Microwave-based stroke diagnosis making global pre-hospital thrombolytic treatment possible
  Here we present two different brain diagnostic devices based on microwave technology and the associated two first proof of principle measurements that show that the systems can differentiate hemorrhagic from ischemic stroke in acute stroke patients, as well differentiate hemorrhagic patients from healthy volunteers. The system was based on microwave scattering measurements with an antenna system worn on the head. Measurement data were analyzed with a machine-learning algorithm that is based on training using data from patients with a known condition. CT images were used as reference. The detection methodology was evaluated with the leave-one-out validation method combined with a Monte Carlo based bootstrap step. The clinical motivation for this project is that ischemic stroke patients may receive acute thrombolytic treatment at hospitals, dramatically reducing or abolishing symptoms. A microwave system is suitable for pre-hospital use, and therefore has the potential to allow significantly earlier diagnosis and treatment than today.