The study looks at stroke rehabilitation in patients experiencing loss of movement
A clinical research team at the University of Birmingham is using a diagnostic platform from open-source medical technology company Openwater in its research on stroke rehabilitation.
The team plans to use the technology, called Open-Motion, in a new trial while studying stroke rehabilitation in patients experiencing loss of movement.
“Stroke care is one of the areas where this device has the most immediate impact, as it’s the leading cause of disability in the UK,” said Openwater CEO Aaron Timm. “We’re excited to partner with the University of Birmingham to explore how Open-Motion can innovate new treatments and improve motor function and mobility for those sidelined by this catastrophic event.”
The study aims to determine whether electrically stimulating the common peroneal nerve can improve blood flow to the brain more effectively than using an intermittent pneumatic compression device in the crucial first 48 hours after an ischemic stroke.
Openwater’s Open-Motion device is a non-invasive diagnostic platform that uses near-infrared light to track blood flow and blood volume below the surface of bodily tissue. The university will use the device to track movement recovery and explore new possibilities for mobile stroke diagnostics.
Open-Motion’s modular, wearable design enables placement on different parts of the body, and its open-source software helps researchers to tailor the device for diverse clinical and research purposes.
The clinical trial will monitor blood flow in the brain while stimulating affected limbs in stroke patients as they are rehabilitated.
By analysing changes in blood volume and movement, researchers aim to achieve a better understanding of the recovery process, evaluate the effectiveness of treatment and develop more personalised therapy protocols. The lead researcher Dr Anirban Dutta also plans to explore how tools like Open-Motion could be deployed in mobile settings such as ambulances to support stroke diagnoses in the field.
“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 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.”
