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Effective treatment of stroke requires rapid diagnosis using brain imaging followed by rapid optimal treatment. Existing imaging using MRI or x-ray CT are typically too slow in practice since they first require the transport of stroke victims to large central facilities.  

Ultrasound imaging is readily portable, fast and universally applicable, but current technology cannot generate accurate images of the adult brain within the skull. Using a technique borrowed from geophysics, full-waveform inversion, it appears possible to image the brain at high resolution through the skull using transmitted ultrasound.  

This technology is especially relevant to stroke where it has the potential to save many thousands of lives and significantly reduce stroke-related disability.

Functional Electrical Stimulation is already used by thousands of stroke survivors and people with multiple-sclerosis to assist their rehabilitation and as an aid to walking in daily life. 

Electrical pulses are used to activate the nerves that make the muscles contract, replacing lost movement. Existing devices in this area work, but there is room for improvement. 

SBRI funding is supporting Odstock Medical to demonstrate the feasibility of a new neuromuscular stimulator project.  

The new device will provide more treatment options and improve the range of people who can benefit. Additional features and digital connectivity will benefit users, clinicians and technicians. The software will be upgradable, enabling us to add features and help new types of patient as time goes on

The aim is to improve patient recovery and to provide support to health care professionals in achieving this through adapting MDSAS's proven patient support app for stroke care. It will collect data entered by patients with upper-limb weakness, such as pain levels, degrees of weakness and other stroke-related symptoms. Health care professionals can view the patient entered data in real-time, supporting remote patient management, prioritised early intervention and clinician-patient communication in community and acute settings. Long-term data will build a crucial evidence base for outcome evaluation.