Active not recruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Electrical Impedance Tomography of Stroke and Brain Injury

This research is investigating a new brain scanning method called Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) for people who have had a stroke or head injury. EIT uses small, ECG-like stickers on the head to create images of the brain's electrical activity. It's fast, safe, easy to move around, and much cheaper than current scans like MRI or CT. The main goal is to check if EIT images are accurate and clear enough to help doctors make quick decisions. If successful, EIT could be used in ambulances or emergency rooms, allowing doctors to spot problems and give life-saving treatments, like clot-busting medicines for stroke, much sooner than is currently possible. This could lead to better recovery for many patients.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Sponsor

University College, London

Enrolment target

150

Start

01 Oct 2015

Estimated completion

01 Dec 2027

Stroke Craniocerebral Injuries

What is this study about?

This study is exploring a new way to look inside the brain after a stroke or head injury, using a technique called Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT). Imagine it like a special helmet with sticky pads, similar to those used for heart tests (ECG), that gently measure small electrical signals from your brain. This helps create pictures of what's happening inside.

The main aim of this research is to see if these EIT images are as good and reliable as the scans doctors currently use, like MRI or CT scans. EIT has some really exciting advantages: it's very fast, it can be used almost anywhere (even in an ambulance), it’s completely safe, and it doesn't cost a lot. While the pictures aren't as detailed as an MRI right now, the hope is that EIT could give doctors enough information very quickly to make important treatment decisions much sooner, especially during emergencies.

If EIT proves to be accurate, it could change how we diagnose and treat brain injuries and strokes. For example, it could allow paramedics to scan someone in an ambulance, or nurses to scan patients in an emergency room, sending the images to a specialist doctor remotely. This faster picture of the brain could mean that people receive life-saving treatments, like medicines to break down blood clots in stroke, much earlier. This could significantly improve recovery and help more people get the right care at the right time.

Key takeaways

This study evaluates a fast, safe, and portable brain scanning method called EIT.
EIT uses sticky pads on the head (like ECG) to create images of the brain.
The goal is to see if EIT can accurately detect stroke and head injury compared to MRI/CT.
If successful, EIT could lead to much faster diagnosis and treatment, especially in emergencies.
Participation involves one EIT scan, lasting between 10 minutes and an hour, sometimes longer for head injury.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, we're looking for adults aged 18 or older.

If you've had a stroke, you would need to have already had an MRI or CT scan that confirmed you had a stroke. You would also need to be able to understand the study and agree to take part, or have a family member or close friend who can make that decision for you.

If you've had a head injury, you would be eligible if you're admitted to the hospital for observation after that injury. However, you wouldn't be able to join if you have any broken bones in your skull or other injuries that would make it unsafe to place the sticky pads on your head.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
Have you recently had an MRI or CT scan that showed a stroke?
Are you able to understand and agree to participate, or do you have someone who can consent for you?
Have you been admitted to the hospital for observation after a head injury?
Do you have any severe head injuries (like skull fractures) that would prevent placing sticky pads on your head?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part in this study, you would have an EIT scan. This involves sitting comfortably in a chair or lying on a bed while gentle, sticky pads (electrodes) are placed on your scalp. This recording will take between 10 minutes and an hour. For some people who have had a head injury, we might ask if you are willing to have the recording take place over several hours to see how your brain changes over time. The EIT recording will happen as soon as possible after you're admitted, usually within 24 hours. There are no follow-up visits or medications involved specifically for this study.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study won't directly improve your health, but it could help us develop a much faster way to check for stroke and head injury in the future, potentially leading to better care for many people. The EIT scan itself is very safe and painless, using similar technology to a heart monitor. The main risk is a very slight chance of skin irritation from the sticky pads, which is usually mild and temporary. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

Hyper-Acute Stroke Unit University College Hospital
Verified postcode
London, United Kingdom

Common questions

What is EIT?

EIT stands for Electrical Impedance Tomography. It's a new, safe way to take pictures of the brain using small, sticky pads on your scalp to measure electrical signals.

Will EIT replace my MRI or CT scan?

No, not right now. We are comparing EIT to MRI and CT scans to see how accurate it is. If it works well, it might be used to get quick information before those more detailed scans.

Is the EIT scan painful?

No, the EIT scan is not painful. It's a gentle procedure where sticky pads are placed on your head, similar to a heart monitor (ECG).

How long does the EIT scan take?

The EIT scan usually takes between 10 minutes and an hour. Sometimes, for head injury patients, it might be recorded over several hours.

Who can join this study?

Adults (18 or older) who have recently had a stroke confirmed by a scan, or those admitted for observation after a head injury, might be eligible.