Chris Whitehouse, a political consultant and expert on medical technology policy and regulation at Whitehouse Communications, and advisor to MedTech suppliers flags a new study highlighting the benefits of AI in stroke analysis.
Stroke patients in England are receiving life-saving treatment more than an hour earlier thanks to a revolutionary artificial intelligence tool, according to a landmark study published in The Lancet Digital Health. The analysis reveals that around 15,000 patients have already benefitted from the technology, which is now in use across more than 70 NHS hospitals.
The Brainomix 360 stroke imaging platform rapidly analyses CT scans, enabling doctors to spot dangerous clots within minutes. By accelerating clinical decision-making, the tool ensures patients can be transferred to specialist stroke centres faster, where they are more likely to undergo thrombectomy—a minimally invasive procedure to remove clots. The study found that hospitals using the AI system doubled their thrombectomy rates, from 2.3% to 4.6%, compared with smaller increases at hospitals without the technology.
Time is critical in stroke care. Every 20-minute delay in thrombectomy reduces the chance of full recovery by around 1%. Without rapid scan interpretation and swift transfer, many patients arrive too late to benefit. The AI tool is particularly valuable in hospitals without on-site neuroradiology expertise, where the study recorded the greatest improvements in treatment rates and transfer times.
Stroke remains one of the leading causes of death and disability in England, with over 80,000 cases each year. Every minute without treatment can destroy millions of brain cells. The findings suggest that AI could help thousands more patients receive specialist care in time to improve their recovery and regain independence.
Dr David Hargroves, NHS National Clinical Director for Stroke and co-author of the study said: “This landmark study confirms what we have already been seeing in daily practice: that stroke AI imaging is helping us deliver faster decision-making and better care for our patients. This technology supports clinicians to make rapid treatment decisions, which means more patients can receive life- and disability-saving treatments in time—giving them a better chance of returning to independent living.”
The study, which analysed data from 452,952 stroke patients, found that after AI implementation in January 2022, more than 15,000 patients had their scans reviewed using the technology. At primary stroke centres, AI use was associated with a 64-minute reduction in “door-in-door-out” time, significantly improving the chances of timely treatment. Patients reviewed with AI were more likely to receive thrombectomy and intravenous thrombolysis, and more likely to achieve favourable functional outcomes at discharge, with no increase in in-hospital mortality.
The NHS rolled out AI decision-support tools to all stroke centres in England in summer 2024 as part of its national optimal stroke imaging pathway. With robust, real-world evidence now confirming the benefits, the technology is being hailed as a breakthrough in modern stroke care.
The Author used AI in preparing this article. Comments upon or questions about this article can be addressed to chris.whitehouse@whitehousecomms.com.
