Stroke affects millions of people the world over and can often be difficult to detect especially in remote areas where doctors may be difficult to detect
Smartphones equipped with a new face scanning tool can help detect stroke within seconds, researchers have reported. Stroke occurs when blood supply to a part of the brain is disrupted either because of a clot obstructing a blood vessel or because of a vessel rupture.
The technology which uses artificial intelligence (AI) has been developed by biomedical engineers at RMIT University. They have reported their findings in Computer Methods and Programmes in Biomedicine. They wrote: “This pilot study has shown that our method can detect PS (post-stroke) based on two simple facial expressions. However, this needs to be tested in real-world conditions, with people of different ethnicities and smartphone use. The method has the potential for a computerized assessment of the videos for use by the first respondents using a smartphone to perform screening tests, which can facilitate the timely start of the treatment.”
PhD scholar Guilherme Camargo de Oliveira, from RMIT and São Paulo State University, led this research under the supervision of team leader Professor Dinesh Kumar.
“Early detection of stroke is critical, as prompt treatment can significantly enhance recovery outcomes, reduce the risk of long-term disability, and save lives. We have developed a simple smartphone tool that paramedics can use to instantly determine whether a patient is post-stroke and then inform the hospital before the ambulance leaves the patient’s house.” Kumar said.
Technologies such as these can be of great use in remote locations where trained medical professionals are not easily available. In stroke time is of great essence as quick restoration of blood supply can keep brain damage at a minimum.
