Smart brain-wave cap recognizes stroke before patient reaches the hospital

A special brain-wave cap can diagnose stroke in the ambulance, allowing the patient to receive appropriate treatment faster. Neurologist Jonathan Coutinho, Technical Physician Wouter Potters and professor of Radiology Henk Marquering, all from Amsterdam UMC, invented the brain-wave cap, which allows an EEG (brain wave test) to be carried out in the ambulance. This brain wave test shows whether there is an ischemic stroke and whether the blocked cerebral blood vessel is large or small. This distinction determines the treatment: in case of a small ischemic stroke, the patient receives a blood thinner, and in case of a large ischemic stroke, the blood clot must be removed mechanically in a specialized hospital. This is very good news, because the cap can ultimately save lives by routing these patients directly to the right hospital.