Using Submarine Sonar to Pinpoint Stroke

A new medical device uses sonar technology developed for submarines to aid in detecting, diagnosing and monitoring a stroke.


A new medical device uses sonar technology developed for submarines to aid in detecting, diagnosing and monitoring a stroke.

A team of interventional radiologists unveiled the portable device, which retired Navy sonar experts built, at the Society of Interventional Radiology's Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago.

A "proof of principle" trial of 40 patients with a wide variety of cerebrovascular conditions, compared with data from 30 "normal" patients, found the device is able to separate normal from all other conditions, to separate all patients with a specific condition into their own category, and provide information about the location of the abnormality, according to an abstract of the research. "Based on the patient data we have analyzed, we believe that any neurological condition that has a physiological basis and is of the order of 2 mm in extent or larger will leave a unique and detectable signature on our data."

Researchers also believe the technology can be modified for use in other areas of acute care. For a PowerPoint presentation, click here, select Tuesday and select MurphySubmarine.ppt.

 

--Joseph Goedert

 

More for you

Loading data for hdm_tax_topic #better-outcomes...