EMVision makes design improvements to portable brain scanning machine for stroke patients
Improvements to EMVision’s portable brain scanner have been made to the antennae, coupling liquid, decoupling media, headset membrane and shielding to enhance durability, reliability and performance.
Queensland-based EMVision Medical Devices (ASX: EMV) has reported significant advances to the design and engineering of its first-generation portable brain scanning machine prior to commercialisation.
Improvements and upgrades have been made to the device’s antennae, coupling liquid, decoupling media, headset membrane and shielding to enhance durability, reliability and performance.
EMVision has also selected the most appropriate manufacturing materials to increase chemical resistance and bio-compatibility.
Scheduled for fabrication this year, the new units will be subject to calibration, verification and validation, and electromagnetic compatibility testing in preparation for expanded multi-site clinical studies in association with the Australian Stroke Alliance.
EMVision’s portable brain scanning device aims to gather diagnostic information from stroke patients, non-invasively and without using ionising radiation, to rapidly distinguish between ischaemic and haemorrhagic strokes.
VNA integration
The design changes follow the recent incorporation of a vector network analyser (VNA) into the brain scanner’s headset to improve device performance where it is needed most – for point-of-care neuro-imaging on patients in stroke or neurology wards, intensive care units or an emergency department.
The VNA is an integral component of EMVision’s technology, responsible for the accurate measurement of signals transmitted and received by electromagnetic microwave imaging systems within the headset.
It has been miniaturised for device integration through a collaboration with electronic measurement company Keysight Technologies Malaysia Sdn Bhd, announced in April 2019.
“It is anticipated that this strategic collaboration will concentrate on engineering VNA units into a highly integrated form factor with the intention of reducing the overall size of [our] brain scanner system while ensuring it meets key end-user requirements,” EMVision said at the time.
“Reducing the system size may also offer greater compatibility with ambulances, helicopters and other first responder applications which face space and weight limitations.”