MRI-Equipped Ambulance Could Be a Game-Changer for Stroke Care
By HospiMedica International staff writers Posted on 03 Nov 2023 |
![Image: MRI images obtained in a moving ambulance could improve stroke care (Photo courtesy of 123RF) Image: MRI images obtained in a moving ambulance could improve stroke care (Photo courtesy of 123RF)](https://globetechcdn.com/mobile_hospimedica/images/stories/articles/article_images/2023-11-03/SDD-294799190.jpg)
The critical nature of timing in treating a stroke is widely recognized, and faster medical response often leads to more favorable recoveries. This urgency is especially relevant with medications like clot-dissolving tPA, which must be administered within a narrow timeframe. The challenge, however, lies in the timely execution of necessary diagnostic studies. Now, the findings of a new trial in which researchers equipped an ambulance with a portable MRI have demonstrated the potential of an MRI-equipped ambulance in treating stroke patients.
Currently, some hospitals deploy mobile stroke units with CT scanners, but these are not without their drawbacks, such as the risk of radiation. Portable MRIs, on the other hand, are free from radiation hazards and their lower magnetic fields eliminate concerns about the proximity of metal, thereby allowing for the use of other medical devices simultaneously. Unlike traditional MRI, portable units can potentially serve to identify strokes even in patients who lack a defined timeline of their stroke's onset. The latest human trial by researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) was based on an earlier trial that had shown it was possible to obtain MRI images in a moving ambulance on a standardized calibration model.
In the new human trial, the research team equipped an ambulance from Charleston County EMS with a portable MRI and managed to take images while driving at a slow pace around a parking area. The trial produced diagnostic-grade images from a healthy volunteer, which were then sent to hospital radiologists to be examined. While these initial findings are promising, the researchers will continue to investigate whether high-quality images can be captured at the ambulance's normal operating speed. The team is also redesigning the ergonomics of how the MRI can fit within the ambulance space. Advancements in technology and further clinical research could make MRI-equipped ambulances a revolutionary tool in emergency medical care, offering critical diagnostic capabilities to stroke patients en route to the hospital.
“If you think about where defibrillators were 50 years ago, they were hundreds of pounds, and it really took out-of-the-box thinking to imagine they could be portable. And now, they're public access points,” said Dustin LeBlanc, M.D., director of Prehospital Medicine and associate chief medical officer for Emergency Management at MUSC. “The MRI-equipped ambulance is just another example of technology helping us to develop ways to make things faster, lighter, smaller, more portable and to get it to the patient as quickly as possible.”
“If you're somebody who could just receive tPA, you might go to a local hospital, while those who need to have advanced procedures, such as interventional neuroradiology, would go to a different hospital,” said Jillian Harvey, Ph.D., a professor in the College of Health Professions. “The imaging provided by the portable MRI scanner in the ambulance could help make that decision. If we can get that information in transit and the decision process going before they even arrive at the hospital, then we can shorten the time to care and treatment.”
Related Links:
MUSC
![](https://img.trademed.com/members/4921/logo/linear logo.jpeg)
Latest Critical Care News
- Portable System for Warming Blood and IV-Fluids Reduces Hypothermia Risk in Hemorrhaging Patients
- AI-Generated Real-Time Alerts for Declining Health Speeds Up Treatment and Reduces Hospital Deaths
- Breakthrough Computational Method Predicts Sudden Cardiac Death
- Ingestible Microbiome Sampling Pill to Help Diagnose Wide Range of Health Conditions
- GPS-Like Smart Pills with AI Provide Real-Time 3D Monitoring Of Gastrointestinal Health
- Bioengineering Breakthrough to Improve Bone Regeneration Treatments
- Soft Robots with Electronic Skins and Artificial Muscles to Provide Medical Treatment
- AI Camera Technology Helps Doctors Quickly Assess Severity of Infections
- Machine Learning Delivers Personalized Oxygenation for Patients on Ventilators
- New AI Algorithm Detects Rare Epileptic Seizures from EEG Data
- Facial Thermal Imaging Combined with AI Predicts Coronary Artery Disease
- AI Technology Predicts Cardiac Events 10 Years in Advance
- Recyclable ‘Smart Skin’ Monitors Biological Signals on Demand
- Novel Catheter to Reduce Risk for Associated Urinary Tract Infections and Sepsis
- AI Doubles Medical Professionals’ Accuracy in Reading EEG Charts of ICU Patients
- Flexible Device Enables Sweat Gland Stimulation and Simultaneous Biosensing
Channels
Critical Care
view channel![Image: The °M Warmer portable blood & IV fluid warmer has received US FDA 510(k) regulatory clearance (Photo courtesy of °MEQU) Image: The °M Warmer portable blood & IV fluid warmer has received US FDA 510(k) regulatory clearance (Photo courtesy of °MEQU)](https://globetechcdn.com/mobile_hospimedica/images/stories/articles/article_images/2024-06-17/mequmwarmerandpowerpack.jpg)
Portable System for Warming Blood and IV-Fluids Reduces Hypothermia Risk in Hemorrhaging Patients
Maintaining a normothermic temperature in patients is often challenging. Accidental hypothermia is a known risk that can lead to increased complications and extended hospital stays. One key factor contributing... Read more![Image: Flow chart showing the study notification protocol (Photo courtesy of Mount Sinai Health System) Image: Flow chart showing the study notification protocol (Photo courtesy of Mount Sinai Health System)](https://globetechcdn.com/mobile_hospimedica/images/stories/articles/article_images/2024-06-17/Press-Release-AI.jpg)
AI-Generated Real-Time Alerts for Declining Health Speeds Up Treatment and Reduces Hospital Deaths
A fundamental objective of inpatient care is the timely intervention to prevent or manage clinical deterioration, which often leads to escalated care associated with poorer outcomes and increased use of resources.... Read more![Image: Researchers have made significant advances in ingestible microbiome sampling pill technology (Photo courtesy of Tufts University) Image: Researchers have made significant advances in ingestible microbiome sampling pill technology (Photo courtesy of Tufts University)](https://globetechcdn.com/mobile_hospimedica/images/stories/articles/article_images/2024-06-14/news-2406-ingestible-pill.jpg)
Ingestible Microbiome Sampling Pill to Help Diagnose Wide Range of Health Conditions
The healthy human gut is home to more than 1,000 species of bacteria, most of which play a beneficial role in digestion and protecting against disease. When the natural balance of these microbes is disrupted,... Read moreSurgical Techniques
view channel![Image: New studies suggest benefit of total robotic metabolic and bariatric surgery over conventional laparoscopy (Photo courtesy of 123RF) Image: New studies suggest benefit of total robotic metabolic and bariatric surgery over conventional laparoscopy (Photo courtesy of 123RF)](https://globetechcdn.com/mobile_hospimedica/images/stories/articles/article_images/2024-06-13/143615440_m_normal_none.jpg)
Total Robotic Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Proves More Beneficial than Conventional Laparoscopy
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 42.4% of Americans are affected by obesity. Research indicates that obesity can compromise the immune system, trigger chronic inflammation,... Read more![Image: Concept of the wirelessly actuated undulating pump and its integration into an esophageal stent (Photo courtesy of Advanced Functional Materials/ doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202405865) Image: Concept of the wirelessly actuated undulating pump and its integration into an esophageal stent (Photo courtesy of Advanced Functional Materials/ doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202405865)](https://globetechcdn.com/mobile_hospimedica/images/stories/articles/article_images/2024-06-11/adfm202405865-fig-0001-m.jpg)
Wirelessly Activated Robotic Device Aids Digestion in Patients with Compromised Organs
The transport of fluids and solids is essential in the human body, driven by a wave-like movement in the lumen known as peristalsis. However, peristalsis can be disrupted in patients who have obstructions... Read morePatient Care
view channel![Image: The portable, handheld BeamClean technology inactivates pathogens on commonly touched surfaces in seconds (Photo courtesy of Freestyle Partners) Image: The portable, handheld BeamClean technology inactivates pathogens on commonly touched surfaces in seconds (Photo courtesy of Freestyle Partners)](https://globetechcdn.com/mobile_hospimedica/images/stories/articles/article_images/2024-05-01/Freestyle_1.jpg)
First-Of-Its-Kind Portable Germicidal Light Technology Disinfects High-Touch Clinical Surfaces in Seconds
Reducing healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) remains a pressing issue within global healthcare systems. In the United States alone, 1.7 million patients contract HAIs annually, leading to approximately... Read more![Image: The newly-launched solution can transform operating room scheduling and boost utilization rates (Photo courtesy of Fujitsu) Image: The newly-launched solution can transform operating room scheduling and boost utilization rates (Photo courtesy of Fujitsu)](https://globetechcdn.com/mobile_hospimedica/images/stories/articles/article_images/2023-09-26/SDD-294798729.jpg)
Surgical Capacity Optimization Solution Helps Hospitals Boost OR Utilization
An innovative solution has the capability to transform surgical capacity utilization by targeting the root cause of surgical block time inefficiencies. Fujitsu Limited’s (Tokyo, Japan) Surgical Capacity... Read more![Image: The Instrument Pod is clinically proven to make the OR and sterile processing more efficient (Photo courtesy of Turbett Surgical) Image: The Instrument Pod is clinically proven to make the OR and sterile processing more efficient (Photo courtesy of Turbett Surgical)](https://globetechcdn.com/mobile_hospimedica/images/stories/articles/article_images/2023-07-13/SDD-294797885.jpg)
Game-Changing Innovation in Surgical Instrument Sterilization Significantly Improves OR Throughput
A groundbreaking innovation enables hospitals to significantly improve instrument processing time and throughput in operating rooms (ORs) and sterile processing departments. Turbett Surgical, Inc.... Read moreHealth IT
view channel![Image: First ever institution-specific model provides significant performance advantage over current population-derived models (Photo courtesy of Mount Sinai) Image: First ever institution-specific model provides significant performance advantage over current population-derived models (Photo courtesy of Mount Sinai)](https://globetechcdn.com/mobile_hospimedica/images/stories/articles/article_images/2023-05-26/SDD-294797344.jpg)
Machine Learning Model Improves Mortality Risk Prediction for Cardiac Surgery Patients
Machine learning algorithms have been deployed to create predictive models in various medical fields, with some demonstrating improved outcomes compared to their standard-of-care counterparts.... Read more![Image: Integration of generative AI into healthcare can increase productivity and enhance patient care (Photo courtesy of Microsoft) Image: Integration of generative AI into healthcare can increase productivity and enhance patient care (Photo courtesy of Microsoft)](https://globetechcdn.com/mobile_hospimedica/images/stories/articles/article_images/2023-05-16/SDD-294797200.jpg)
Strategic Collaboration to Develop and Integrate Generative AI into Healthcare
Top industry experts have underscored the immediate requirement for healthcare systems and hospitals to respond to severe cost and margin pressures. Close to half of U.S. hospitals ended 2022 in the red... Read more![Image: iQueue for Operating Rooms maximizes OR access by optimizing block and open time (Photo courtesy of Freepik) Image: iQueue for Operating Rooms maximizes OR access by optimizing block and open time (Photo courtesy of Freepik)](https://globetechcdn.com/mobile_hospimedica/images/stories/articles/article_images/2023-05-10/SDD-294797132.jpg)
AI-Enabled Operating Rooms Solution Helps Hospitals Maximize Utilization and Unlock Capacity
For healthcare organizations, optimizing operating room (OR) utilization during prime time hours is a complex challenge. Surgeons and clinics face difficulties in finding available slots for booking cases,... Read more![Image: AI model spots those at highest risk for up to three years before diagnosis (Photo courtesy of Freepik) Image: AI model spots those at highest risk for up to three years before diagnosis (Photo courtesy of Freepik)](https://globetechcdn.com/mobile_hospimedica/images/stories/articles/article_images/2023-05-10/SDD-294797117.jpg)
AI Predicts Pancreatic Cancer Three Years before Diagnosis from Patients’ Medical Records
Screening for common cancers like breast, cervix, and prostate cancer relies on relatively simple and highly effective techniques, such as mammograms, Pap smears, and blood tests. These methods have revolutionized... Read morePoint of Care
view channel![Image: POCT offers cost-effective, accessible, and immediate diagnostic solutions (Photo courtesy of Flinders University) Image: POCT offers cost-effective, accessible, and immediate diagnostic solutions (Photo courtesy of Flinders University)](https://globetechcdn.com/mobile_hospimedica/images/stories/articles/article_images/2024-05-30/28897_about_up_woman_operating_poct_machine.jpg)
POCT for Infectious Diseases Delivers Laboratory Equivalent Pathology Results
On-site pathology tests for infectious diseases in rural and remote locations can achieve the same level of reliability and accuracy as those conducted in hospital laboratories, a recent study suggests.... Read more![Image: The cartridge-based TEG 6s system provides clinicians a complete picture about a patient\'s coagulation profile (Photo courtesy of Haemonetics Corporation) Image: The cartridge-based TEG 6s system provides clinicians a complete picture about a patient\'s coagulation profile (Photo courtesy of Haemonetics Corporation)](https://globetechcdn.com/mobile_hospimedica/images/stories/articles/article_images/2024-05-28/TEG6s-5-Hospital-Single-Product-Image-429x429-Recovered.jpg)
Cartridge-Based Hemostasis Analyzer System Enables Faster Coagulation Testing
Quickly assessing a patient's total hemostasis status can be critical to influencing clinical outcomes and using blood products. Haemonetics Corporation (Boston, MA, USA) has now obtained 510(k) clearance... Read more![Image: The Quantra Hemostasis System has received US FDA special 510(k) clearance for use with its Quantra QStat Cartridge (Photo courtesy of HemoSonics) Image: The Quantra Hemostasis System has received US FDA special 510(k) clearance for use with its Quantra QStat Cartridge (Photo courtesy of HemoSonics)](https://globetechcdn.com/mobile_hospimedica/images/stories/articles/article_images/2024-04-05/Quantra_Instrument_QStat_Dials_2022.jpg)
Critical Bleeding Management System to Help Hospitals Further Standardize Viscoelastic Testing
Surgical procedures are often accompanied by significant blood loss and the subsequent high likelihood of the need for allogeneic blood transfusions. These transfusions, while critical, are linked to various... Read moreBusiness
view channel![Image: The Critical Care acquisition will enhance BD’s portfolio of smart connected care solutions (Photo courtesy of BD) Image: The Critical Care acquisition will enhance BD’s portfolio of smart connected care solutions (Photo courtesy of BD)](https://globetechcdn.com/mobile_hospimedica/images/stories/articles/article_images/2024-06-04/Hemodynamic_Monitoring_1.jpg)
BD Acquires Edwards Lifesciences' Critical Care Product Group for USD 4.2 Billion
BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA) and Edwards Lifesciences (Irvine, CA, USA) have entered into a definitive agreement under which BD will acquire Edwards' Critical Care product... Read more![Image: The MEDICA START-UP PARK is the meeting place for networking for and with the creative start-up scene (Photo courtesy of Constanze Tillmann/Messe Düsseldorf) Image: The MEDICA START-UP PARK is the meeting place for networking for and with the creative start-up scene (Photo courtesy of Constanze Tillmann/Messe Düsseldorf)](https://globetechcdn.com/mobile_hospimedica/images/stories/articles/article_images/2024-05-30/MEDICA23_STARTUP_PARK.jpg)