EMVision Medical Devices reports encouraging progress in stroke-related brain scan trial

EMVision Medical Devices (ASX: EMV) has released what it claims is “promising” first stroke patient images from a pilot clinical trial that aims to improve the understanding of stroke on electromagnetic scattering effects in the brain.

According to the portable medical imaging technology developer, EMVision brain scans have demonstrated a strong correlation with ground truth scans of patients using the “gold standard imaging methods” of MRI and CT.

This correlation includes the detection and localisation of abnormal brain tissue, the company reported.

EMVision clinical advisor Professor Michael O’Sullivan, who is also a neurologist specialising in stroke, said the early results were “highly promising”.

“In both cases, the EMVision scans were clearly positive and provided a good guide to the extent of brain tissue damaged or under threat,” he said.

EMVision chief executive officer Dr Ron Weinburger said the company is confident as it continues to process further stroke patient data that it will demonstrate its “unique value proposition to meet a major unmet clinical need in rapid and portable stroke diagnosis and monitoring”.

“Our first set of images, while preliminary, is certainly encouraging, demonstrating a strong correlation with mainstay medical imaging outputs, with the potential to add unique functional information,” he said.

Pilot clinical trial

EMVision commenced its pilot clinical trial in late January and aims to use the procured data to refine and select the optimal imaging algorithms as well as generate early data showing the correlation with CT and MRI images.

The announced preliminary results reflect an initial two datasets of the patients enrolled to date.

The final results of the study, when completed, will undergo a detailed review by EMVision’s clinical advisors.

Meanwhile, the algorithm team are processing further patient datasets, including different stroke sizes, subtypes and locations, and will refine and validate different “fusion” combinations of algorithms to deliver the ideal clinical output.

Portable brain scanner in development

EMVision is developing a “portable, cost-effective and non-invasive” brain scanner in partnership with the University of Queensland, GE Healthcare, Australian Stroke Alliance, Metro South Health and Keysight Technologies.

The device is designed to speed up the diagnosis and monitoring of time-sensitive neurological disorders such as stroke traumatic brain injury.

It is intended to be used in stroke wards, intensive care units, ambulances and remote locations.

Professor Geoffrey Donnan AO, one of the co-chairs of the Australian Stroke Alliance and former president of the World Stroke Organisation has offered his expert feedback on the technology.

“The lightweight portability of the device makes it a potential candidate for emergency stroke imaging in the pre-hospital setting,” he said.