Stroke affects 15 million people worldwide each year, with nearly 6 million deaths and 5 million cases of disability, making it the second leading cause of death and the primary cause of disability globally. In the EU alone, approximately 1.2 million strokes occur annually. Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) accounts for 85% of cases, while the remaining 15% are acute hemorrhagic strokes (AHS). According to “The Burden of Stroke in Europe”, the total number of stroke events in the EU is expected to increase by 34% by 2035 due to an aging population. Consequently, stroke-related costs, which had already reached €45 billion by 2015 (including healthcare and non-healthcare expenses), are projected to rise further. The Stroke Alliance for Europe warned the EU Parliament in 2017 that the number of people living with chronic stroke conditions would increase from 3.7 million in 2015 to 4.6 million by 2035, emphasizing the urgent need for healthcare preparedness: “This is a huge wave coming our way and we better start to prepare for it, so that the expected 34% increase in numbers of new stroke cases until 2035 does not overwhelm national healthcare systems and those families touched by stroke”.
Acute stroke is a medical emergency where faster admission and treatment by specialized stroke teams significantly improve recovery. However, stroke care inequalities across Europe are evident. Only about 30% of patients receive specialized stroke unit (SU) care, which improves clinical outcomes but is primarily available in major hospitals. As a result, SU access varies widely within and between countries, often favoring urban areas over rural ones. While stroke mortality has declined over the past two decades, survival rates still depend heavily on geographic location.
Today, stroke treatment decisions rely on expert physicians interpreting advanced medical imaging. Standard (non-contrast CT) and advanced imaging (CT angiography [CTA] and CT perfusion [CTP]) use the same equipment, which is available in most hospitals. However, CTA/CTP requires skilled practitioners for both image acquisition and interpretation, as contrast agents must be injected into the bloodstream. Due to a global shortage of trained specialists, over 50% of hospitals worldwide cannot perform CTA imaging 24/7, and only 5% can conduct CTP imaging continuously.
Methinks AI is a Barcelona-based company dedicated to providing universal and timely medical assistance to enable life-saving treatments worldwide. Our primary focus is stroke care. Our flagship AI product, Methinks Stroke Suite, received CE Mark certification in January 2023. This innovative solution expedites time-to-treatment in any hospital by analyzing standard medical imaging, such as non-contrast CT scans. In stroke cases, "time is brain," meaning every minute counts in determining the risk of disability or death.
Methinks Stroke Suite is an AI-powered radiological triage and notification system that uses advanced algorithms to detect suspected Large Vessel Occlusions (LVO) in Non-Contrast Computed Tomography (NCCT) and Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) images. It also identifies Intracerebral Hemorrhages (ICH) on NCCT scans. Seamlessly integrating into clinical workflows, it leverages widely available CT scans in hospitals worldwide to enable early, rapid, and precise triaging of acute stroke patients.
