Siemens Healthineers Debuts Mobile Stroke Unit For Accelerated Treatment

Siemens Healthineers has unveiled the first U.S. mobile stroke unit (MSU) featuring the Somatom On.site head computed tomography (CT) scanner. Deployed at UCLA Health of Southern California, the MSU is a specialized ambulance designed to quickly deliver advanced stroke care directly to patients to improve their recovery chances. At the core of UCLA’s MSU is the Somatom On.site, which is integrated into the ambulance to streamline workflow, enhance diagnostic accuracy, and empower MSU teams to deliver timely, life-saving care.

When a 911 call indicates a potential stroke, an MSU is dispatched alongside or instead of a standard ambulance. Upon arrival, the MSU care team conducts an on-scene CT scan to determine whether the stroke is ischemic or hemorrhagic. The care team consults with a stroke specialist through telemedicine to guide immediate treatment decisions.

“The phrase ‘time is brain’ is used frequently when discussing stroke. The Somatom On.site head CT scanner at the heart of our mobile stroke unit empowers MSU teams to make informed decisions sooner and potentially improve patient outcomes,” said Matthew Dedman, head of Computed Tomography at Siemens Healthineers North America. “This CT solution will help stroke care teams improve access to care and reduce the critical time from symptom onset to diagnosis and treatment.”

A U.S. resident suffers a stroke every 40 seconds; many of those patients experience long-term disabilities due to delayed treatment,¹ and fatalities occur every three minutes and 11 seconds.^1,2 To save critical time and improve this situation, MSUs allow pre-hospital diagnosis of suspected stroke patients. These units can help reduce time to treatment by an average of 30 minutes compared with conventional stroke pathways, and 65% more patients recover without health issues.^3,4

The Somatom On.site mobile head CT scanner in the MSU delivers a high image quality level compared to stationary CT scanners, aiding in reliable ischemia or brain bleeding detection. Integrated patient- support accessories, including the isocentered head holder and customized shoulder board, promote efficient workflow and easy patient positioning. The self-shielded telescopic gantry supports high-quality imaging for greater diagnostic confidence. The intuitive touch user interface and myExam Companion workflow, which is guided by artificial intelligence, help CT technologists acquire and automatically reconstruct high-quality images.

“Advancements in mobile stroke imaging represent a significant step forward in pre-hospital stroke care,” said May Nour, M.D., Ph.D., medical director of the Arline and Henry Gluck Mobile Stroke Rescue Program at UCLA Health, Los Angeles. “Our commitment to innovative approaches in emergency medicine aims to improve patient outcomes through rapid assessment and treatment when every minute counts.”

Siemens Healthineers is a global provider of healthcare equipment, solutions and services, with activities in more than 180 countries and direct representation in more than 70. The group comprises Siemens Healthineers AG, listed as SHL in Frankfurt, Germany, and its subsidiaries. The company is principally active in imaging, diagnostics, cancer care, and minimally invasive therapies, augmented by digital technology and artificial intelligence. In fiscal 2024, year ended Sept. 30, Siemens Healthineers employed approximately 72,000 workers worldwide and generated around €22.4 billion in revenue.

References
¹ Tsao, C.W., Aday, A.W., Almarzooq, Z.I., et al (2023). Heart disease and stroke statistics—2023 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 147: e93–e621.
² National Center for Health Statistics. Multiple Cause of Death 2018–2022 on CDC WONDER Database. Accessed May 3, 2024. https://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd.html
³ Golden Hour Treatment With tPA (Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator) in the BEST-MSU Study | https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.122.0398, accessed Jan 16, 2025
⁴ Comparison of Mobile Stroke Unit With Usual Care for Acute Ischemic Stroke Management| https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2021.5321, accessed Jan 16, 2025