Indian startup Qure.ai has launched a new stroke management platform that enables remote diagnosis and decision making. 

Launched in early November, the system has been rolled out in The Baptist Christian Hospital, teleradiology chain Aarthi Scans and the Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences, among others.

WHAT IT'S ABOUT

The Qure.ai Stroke Management Platform is powered by the startup's AI imaging solution called qER, a US FDA 510(k) cleared triage and notification tool that interprets and quantifies up to 12 abnormalities on head CT scans, such as bleed, fracture, mass effect and midline shift. It helps in spotting stroke at an early stage. 

Aside from showing stroke severity score using the NIH Stroke Scale, the AI tool also provides an Alberta stroke programme early CT (ASPECT) score to detect the extent of ischaemic changes on a non-contrast CT. Moreover, qER creates maximum intensity projection (MIP) images that shows infarct core and penumbra and quantifies mismatch ratio and volume of a salvageable tissue via automated computed tomography angiography (CTA) interpretation.

The stroke management system also has a companion mobile app where stroke stakeholders, including radiologists, neurologists, and neurosurgeons, can view clinical and imaging data. It supports DICOM file viewing and generates PDF reports. Through the app, clinicians can also edit AI findings and share images and reports. 

WHY IT MATTERS

A recent study published in the International Journal of Stroke showed that over the past two decades, between 108-171 out of 100,000 Indian people annually were diagnosed with stroke, which has become the fourth leading cause of death and the fifth leading cause of disability in the country.

In a recent news report, neurologist Dr Gaurav Jain claimed that a stroke epidemic has emerged in India with around 2 million new cases being recorded yearly. He also claimed that the country accounts for 60% of stroke patients globally.

Qure.ai's latest stroke management solution reduces the stroke workflow which can take hours from triage to treatment. It also supports clinicians to remotely diagnose and decide on emergency cases of stroke.

THE LARGER TREND

This year, Qure.ai made multiple partnerships to bring its technology to countries where access to health screening tools are limited. It teamed up with Fujifilm Corporation to equip the Fujifilm X-ray FDR Xair system with its AI software ​​qXR, which analyses radiographs and detect abnormal chest findings, such as tuberculosis, within seconds. The company also partnered with AstraZeneca Malaysia to roll out its diagnostics software to support the early detection of lung cancer in Malaysia. 

ON THE RECORD

"The treatment of acute stroke is time-sensitive… Maintaining the stroke workflow objectively is challenging and this [is where] the stroke management platform developed by Qure.ai would be of great help for stroke professionals. Documentation of key performance indicators laid down by the World Stroke Organization can be monitored using this platform," said Dr Jeyaraj Durai Pandian, principal of neurology at the Christian Medical College and president of the Indian Stroke Association.