Neuralert: The Newest Stroke Detection Technology
Benjamin Yurovsky | February 15, 2023
Strokes are a pretty big deal… We all know that. Although strokes are somewhat predictable, many people are unaware of the symptoms that lead to this attack. Strokes are also much more common than most would like to believe. In fact, studies show that somebody around the world experiences a stroke every 40 seconds. For those unfamiliar with the complexities of this medical emergency, a stroke takes place when the supply of blood to the brain is drastically reduced. This lack of blood flow significantly inhibits the supply of nutrients and oxygen to brain tissue.
Over the course of the last few decades, humans have seen many attempts to create an effective and successful stroke detection/prevention device, but to the dismay of many, we have not been able to accomplish this feat. Enter Neuralert. Set to become available to the public at some point next year, this device aims to assemble various groundbreaking technologies into one tiny, wearable device.
In theory, this device functions in a simple fashion. The Neuralert consists of two wearable bracelets that work hand-in-hand to detect a stroke. A droopy, weak arm is one of the most common symptoms of an upcoming stroke – and this device is set to create massive strides in this regard. Essentially, the technology is able to determine any sort of unevenness in either arm as well as the onset of weakness. The instant it detects any abnormalities, Neuralert contacts emergency services.
However, is it really worth it to wear these two wristbands at all times? The answer: yes. Studies show that it can take upwards of four hours for a hospital to diagnose a stroke. Meanwhile, the Neuralert is able to detect more than 65% of strokes within half an hour. Additionally, Neuralert is a far cheaper approach to confirming a stroke than a hospital visit. Even if a visit to the hospital to deal with possible stroke symptoms is necessary, Neuralert allows for early detection of the medical emergency, therefore significantly reducing the costs of medical bills.
Finally, this device isn’t some abstract technology that was created in a dark laboratory in Europe. In fact, it was designed by one of Vanderbilt’s very own professors: Dr. James Weimer. In addition to being an assistant professor in Computer Science in the School of Engineering, Weimer is also dedicated to furthering his research on medical learning-enabled cyber-physical systems. As Weimer and his team prepare for the launch of their revolutionary product, I urge readers to keep up with Neuralert and their technologies.
Bibliography
Brain Stroke Cartoon Stock Illustrations. iStock. (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2022, from https://www.istockphoto.com/illustrations/brain-stroke-cartoon.
Gonzalez, G. (2022, November 10). Neuralert: The 200 best inventions of 2022. Time. Retrieved November 28, 2022, from https://time.com/collection/best-inventions-2022/6228884/neuralert/
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, January 20). Stroke. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved November 28, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/stroke/symptoms-causes/syc-20350113
Neuralert: Home Page. Neuralert. (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2022, from https://www.neuralerttechnologies.com/