Openwater has announced promising results for its portable cerebral blood flow monitor that could revolutionize stroke detection in emergency settings, with new research showing the device's ability to help emergency medical services teams better identify severe strokes in the field.
The study, published in the Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, builds on 2024 research demonstrating that Openwater's Open-Motion device outperformed current prehospital stroke scales in identifying large vessel occlusions (LVO), a life-threatening type of stroke. The device correctly identified 79% of patients with LVO and accurately excluded 84% of those without the condition.
Adaptive Diagnostic Approach Shows Clinical Promise
The latest analysis focused on how different diagnostic settings affected device performance, revealing that emergency medical services teams could optimize the tool for either sensitivity or specificity based on local healthcare infrastructure needs. This adaptability could help ensure patients reach appropriate treatment facilities more efficiently.
"Ongoing research shows the potential for adaptable diagnostic tools to enable EMS teams to optimize stroke triage in the field, helping them make smarter, faster decisions," said Christopher Favilla, lead researcher and assistant professor of neurology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
The clinical significance becomes clear when considering that more than 75,000 Americans experience an LVO stroke annually. These strokes require rapid endovascular therapy (EVT), a procedure best performed within two hours of symptom onset. However, only 37% of the nation's 1,941 stroke centers currently offer EVT, making accurate field detection and routing essential for patient outcomes.
Technology Expands into Rehabilitation Research
The University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom has become the first institution to receive the latest version of Openwater's Open-Motion device, marking an expansion into stroke rehabilitation research. The university's clinical research team plans to use the technology in a new trial studying movement recovery in stroke patients.
Open-Motion is a lightweight, portable, non-invasive diagnostic platform that uses near-infrared light to precisely track blood flow and blood volume below the surface of bodily tissue. Its modular, wearable design allows for easy placement on different parts of the body, while its open-source software enables researchers to tailor the device for various clinical and research purposes.
The University of Birmingham's clinical trial will monitor brain blood flow while stimulating affected limbs in stroke patients during rehabilitation. The research investigates whether electrically stimulating the common peroneal nerve can improve brain blood flow more effectively than using an intermittent pneumatic compression device in the crucial first 48 hours after an ischemic stroke.
Advancing Personalized Stroke Care
Lead researcher Anirban Dutta, Ph.D., a biomedical engineer working closely with the UK's National Health Service, sees broader applications for the technology. "By better understanding how blood flow is regulated after a stroke, we aim to develop innovative neuroengineering solutions that accelerate recovery and enhance mobility for stroke patients," said Dr. Dutta. "With Open-Motion, we see the potential for an affordable and scalable model, enabling advanced stroke rehab in clinics and hospitals across the country."
The device's open-source platform invites researchers worldwide to collaborate and rapidly advance the technology for new indications. This approach, combined with the device's affordability and adaptability, represents a significant step toward democratizing access to advanced neurological diagnostics.
Regulatory and Market Considerations
The Open-Motion 3.0 device has not yet been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is currently intended for research use only. This regulatory status reflects the broader challenges facing innovative medical devices seeking to enter clinical practice.
"The findings reinforce that our technology has the potential to provide early and accurate detection of LVO," said Aaron Timm, CEO of Openwater. "With adaptable, real-time, and portable tools like Open-Motion, we will be able to deliver faster, more precise diagnostics for medical conditions where every minute can make a significant difference in patient outcomes."
The development comes as the field of stroke diagnostics evolves rapidly, with increasing emphasis on improving triage in prehospital settings. Traditional stroke assessments often fall short when identifying large vessel occlusion, the deadliest form of ischemic stroke, sparking growing interest in portable technologies that can bridge the diagnostic gap between first responders and comprehensive stroke centers.
