Democratizing acute stroke care to support frontline decision making
Expanding StrokeSENS – AI tools for rapid image interpretation for decision-making for patients with acute ischemic stroke
PROJECT METRICS
The Challenge
In cases of acute stroke, timely diagnosis and treatment are critical to improving patient outcomes. However, access to advanced stroke imaging and experienced radiological interpretation is uneven—particularly at smaller or rural hospitals. Many frontline centres rely on general CT scans, but interpreting these scans can be difficult for healthcare providers without specialized stroke training. As a result, subtle but significant pathologies may be missed, leading to delays in care or unnecessary patient transfers. This contributes to a persistent gap in stroke treatment for under-resourced hospitals.
The Solution – INOVAIT Project
Circle Cardiovascular Imaging is working to close this gap through the development of AI-powered tools that support faster, more accurate interpretation of CT scans at the point of care. Building on the success of its INOVAIT Pilot Fund project—which led to the development and regulatory approval of StrokeSENS, a clinical decision support tool—Circle’s Focus Fund project is accelerating the creation and deployment of additional AI-based imaging software to aid in stroke triage and diagnosis. These tools are designed to assist clinicians in determining whether urgent treatment is needed and whether a patient should be transferred to a comprehensive stroke centre. By empowering non-specialized centres with advanced decision-making capabilities, Circle’s technology has the potential to democratize stroke care and reduce disparities across Canada’s healthcare system.
Funding Type: fonds Focus
Year of Funding: 2022
INOVAIT Funding Amount: $1,989,941.46
Total Project Funding Amount: $5,969,824.38
Circle Cardiovascular Imaging
Founded in 2007, Circle Cardiovascular Imaging (Circle) is a Calgary-based healthtech company developing innovative software solutions to enhance medical imaging analysis and improve patient care. Since its inception, Circle has grown to become a globally recognized leader in the field.
"Leadership Quote"
Qiao Wei
CTO
Circle Cardiovascular Imaging