SEMTANA: Stimulus Evoked Motion Tracking for Automated Neurological Assessment

Neurological assessments in hospitalized patients have significant limitations that compromise patient care and hospital operations. Current methods are inaccurate, relying on crude bedside tests that fail to detect subtle neurological changes. These assessments occur infrequently—typically every few hours—creating substantial monitoring gaps. The methods are also insensitive, designed to identify gross deficits while missing early indicators of neurological deterioration. 

These deficiencies result in delayed recognition of acute neurological events such as stroke, where treatment delays directly correlate with increased morbidity and mortality. The "time is brain" principle emphasizes that each minute of delayed intervention results in irreversible tissue loss and worse patient outcomes. 

Our proposed technology will perform automatic neurological assessment in hospitalized patients by measuring and analyzing movement trajectories evoked by sensory stimulation. SEMTANA (Stimulus Evoked Motion Tracking for Automated Neurological Assessment) consists of three distinct components: 1) automated sensory stimulation, 2) motion tracking, and 3) software algorithm for interpretation of stimulus-evoked movement trajectories. 

Our technology can provide a point-of-care diagnostic monitor and provide automated, objective and a near continuous stream of information about the patient’s neurological function, like continuous heart rate or blood oxygenation monitor. It could become a standard technology that is purchased by hospitals for monitoring neurological function in hospitalized patients.