90% of strokes go untreated due to stroke recognition delays. Many patients live in fear that a stroke might happen and go unnoticed for hours, particularly if they are asleep when it starts. Stroke is currently impossible to detect based on symptoms. Unlike a heart attack, there is no distinct pain. There is a compelling need for a monitoring/alert system that will enable fast access to treatment.
Orestis has a PhD in Biotechnology and Bioengineering and has spent a decade developing wearable health-monitoring technologies. Urs is a pediatric critical care physician. Both founders have done research at Stanford. We've also both experienced the never-ending fear of another stroke in our families. We decided to do something about this problem--only 10% receiving treatment is just not cutting it!
We have a stroke detection algorithm which has been clinically proven in operating rooms. We're pairing it with commercially available brainwave sensors to create a smart headband that enables immediate stroke detection at home. The sensor pairs with our app and if a stroke is detected it alerts caregivers abs 911. This is different from other technologies that aim to improve patient transportation (once the patient is in the ambulance) or door to needle time (once the patient is in the hospital). The longest delays occur prior to calling 911, so this is the critical phase for making a difference.
The headband pairs with an app to analyze the brain’s electrical activity in real time with our stroke-detection algorithms. Brain activity metrics are already used in the clinical environment, but so far this know-how has remained siloed within the hospital. Our headband runs on AI that emulates the ability of expert neurophysiologists in digesting brain activity information to infer whether a cerebral injury is taking place.
We have recently kicked off a 15 person human factors study to assess overall system adoption and compliance. We also offer a sign up to get it first once our technology is cleared by the FDA. We look forward to your questions and comments!