Micro-X Head CT: A Point-Of-Care Stroke Diagnosis Device

Stroke is a leading cause of death and long-term disability in Australia and the second highest cause of death globally. In Australia, a stroke emergency occurs every 19 minutes. Without action, by 2050, Australians will face a stroke emergency every 10 minutes. Stroke is highly treatable but time-critical. Early diagnosis and pre-hospital treatment can reduce deaths, disability, and drastically improve patient outcomes. For the best outcomes, a stroke needs to be scanned and treated within the first hour, known as the ‘Golden Hour’. However, we currently have no dependable solution for most people in Australia and around the world.

The Micro-X Head CT is a compact device designed for use in ambulances. Unlike conventional CTs with a large rotating tube, it uses an arc array of 21 miniaturised X-ray emitters and a curved detector. It provides diagnostic-quality three-dimensional images for ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke. Co-designed with paramedics and clinicians, it prioritises user experience above all. The Head CT offers fast, high-resolution brain images, a user-friendly workflow with minimal training requirements, and a cost-effective design for emergency services. This four-year research involved collaboration among designers, engineers, scientists, and clinicians across Australia and the USA, ensuring widespread utility and effectiveness.

Twenty-three Australians die every day from a stroke. The Micro-X Head CT will deliver healthcare access for stroke patients across Australia, including remote underserved communities. By enabling on-site diagnosis and treatment, it can reduce hospitalisation and rehabilitation costs. It is seven times lighter than a standard CT and scans with just a third of the radiation dose. Implementing the Head CTs can help alleviate the $32.2 billion economic burden of stroke in Australia while opening up a US $5 billion market. This innovation saves lives, promotes radiation safety, and drives economic growth, offering a transformative solution for healthcare systems worldwide.

Design Health Collab identified challenges hindering the scalability and affordability of on-site stroke diagnosis and treatment systems for mass implementation. The main limiting factor worldwide is the need for a specialised vehicle and crew. Current mobile stroke solutions typically require large custom-built vehicles, complex equipment, and at least four healthcare professionals on board: a neurologist, a radiographer, and two paramedics. The research suggested that addressing these issues would require redesigning the device and operation workflow to be vehicle-agnostic, easy to use, and telehealth-capable. The Micro-X Head CT is designed to be easily integrated within the most common ambulances around the world and adaptable to both left- and right-handed orientations. It features affordances and mechanisms to allow fluent deployment, stowage, and operation by a non-radiography specialist, such as a paramedic with light training on device safety, operation, and troubleshooting. The CT device enables paramedics to produce a scan of a patient’s brain in just eight seconds from any location and then immediately forward that image to a stroke specialist for assessment. This modified design and workflow significantly increase the likelihood of implementing the Head CT in Australia and worldwide, making advanced stroke care more accessible and efficient.