Siemens Healthineers deploys its first mobile stroke unit in the US
Siemens Healthineers announced the rollout of its first mobile stroke unit (MSU) in the United States, marking a “significant step forward” in stroke care.
The health tech giant’s first U.S. MSU features the Somatom On.site head computed tomography scanner, which has been designed for the timely detection and management of strokes outside of hospitals. UCLA Health of Southern California is the first organization to deploy the new unit.
“Advancements in mobile stroke imaging represent a significant step forward in pre-hospital stroke care,” May Nour, MD, PhD, medical director of the Arline and Henry Gluck Mobile Stroke Rescue Program at UCLA Health, Los Angeles, said in a news release. “Our commitment to innovative approaches in emergency medicine aims to improve patient outcomes through rapid assessment and treatment when every minute counts.”
When 911 calls routed to the organization indicate a potential stroke, an MSU is deployed alongside an ambulance to the patient’s location. Once there, the MSU care team completes the scan and immediately sends the images to a stroke specialist, who determines the type of stroke and directs the team on the best course of immediate treatment in real-time.
This significantly expedites the time-to-treatment window and improves the odds of favorable patient outcomes. Patients who receive care via MSU typically have lower 90-day mortality rates and better functional outcomes compared to those who have had their treatment delayed until they arrive at the hospital, research has shown.
“The phrase ‘time is brain’ is used frequently when discussing stroke. The Somatom On.site head CT scanner at the heart of our mobile stroke unit empowers MSU teams to make informed decisions sooner and potentially improve patient outcomes,” Matthew Dedman, head of Computed Tomography at Siemens Healthineers North America, said in the same release. “This innovative CT solution will help stroke care teams improve access to care and reduce the critical time from symptom onset to diagnosis and treatment.”
The MSU comes integrated with multiple accessories designed to support both patients and care staff. It is equipped with an isocentered head holder and customized shoulder board to optimize patient positioning, while its self-shielded telescopic gantry improves diagnostic confidence. Its AI-enabled intuitive touch user interface and myExam Companion workflow aid CT techs in quickly and accurately acquiring and reconstructing images on the go.
Learn more about the new MSU here.
In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She began covering the medical imaging industry for Innovate Healthcare in 2021.