The e-ASPECTS software analyses brain CT scans of stroke patients to determine whether they are likely to benefit from either clot busting (thrombolytic) treatment or mechanical clot removal.

Dr Michalis Papadakis, CEO and co-founder of Brainomix, explains:   “In the hours after a stroke, it’s really difficult to tell how much damage has occurred on the brain CT scan.  The signs are very subtle but are an important factor when selecting patients for life-saving treatment”

Brainomix co-founder Professor Alastair Buchan invented a scoring system – named ASPECTS  – to standardise the assessment of CT brain scans.  However, implementing the system in clinical practise was difficult and consultants with the required experience were not always available in hospitals.   Brainomix software automates the ASCPECTS system, processing a CT scan in two minutes.

Dr Papadakis says: “Our e-ASPECTS software allows hospitals to evaluate CT scans quickly and reliably.  We aim to optimise stroke treatment in hospitals where stroke specialists are not readily available, and provide a valuable second opinion in those that do”

Clinical trials have shown that e-ASPECTS is at least as good as expert physicians at evaluating CT scans of stroke patients.

Brainomix has received significant funding from Innovate UK and private investors.  The company plans to increase the uptake of e-ASPECTS in hospitals, and is working on a new product – perfusion-ASPECTS.   Whilst e-ASPECTS identifies brain tissue that has suffered irreversible damage, perfusion ASPECTS will identify brain tissue at risk of damage.  Together with e-ASPECTS, this will further help doctors to identify which patients would benefit from mechanical clot removal – a life-saving but expensive treatment.

The technology is currently installed in hospitals in the UK, Finland and Germany.