"Wearable Device Recognizes Serious Strokes For Immediate Treatment" - Maureen McFadden
Researchers are testing a new wearable device that can recognize serious strokes; strokes where there’s almost total blockage of blood to the brain. By identifying these patients quickly, first responders can direct them immediately to hospitals that offer the advanced emergency care they need to survive. Christopher Kellner, MD, director of the intracerebral hemorrhage program at Mount Sinai and assistant professor of neurosurgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, is testing a device that can quickly tell if a patient is having a major stroke. It’s called volumetric integral phase-shift spectroscopy or VIPS. “The VIPS device is like an EKG for the brain, except it’s much more accurate,” Dr. Kellner said. The VIPS is a visor that emits radiofrequency waves. When it’s placed on the head, it detects any differences between the two sides of the brain, indicating a major blockage. In a multi-center trial of the VIPS device, Dr. Kellner and his colleagues found it was 92 percent effective in identifying large strokes from small strokes. Patients having small strokes would not need the same, immediate surgery to restore blood flow, and could benefit from other treatments, like medication.
- Christopher P. Kellner, MD, Director, Intracerebral Hemorrhage Program at Mount Sinai, Assistant Professor, Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai