The Royal United Hospital in Bath has become the first research centre in the country to study a device aimed at reducing the risk of blood clots in stroke patients.
A close-up of the Geko device | Photo © RUH
Researchers want to find out if the gekoTM device can reduce the risk of blood clots in people who are now less mobile after having a stroke.
The device, which is a similar size to a watch strap, is fitted to a patient’s leg just below the knee and uses a small electrical pulse to stimulate a nerve in the leg, which causes muscle contraction and increases blood flow in the leg.
News of the study, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), coincided with World Stroke Day, a national campaign held in October each year to increase awareness and action of stroke prevention around the world.
Hayley Stoney, RUH Stroke Research Nurse, said: “We’re really proud to be the first centre in the country to be leading on such an important study.
“People who have had a stroke will often have reduced mobility as a result and this can increase the risk of them getting potentially fatal blood clots in their legs.
“We want to assess if the gekoTM device is suitable for our stroke patients and, if it is, whether it could reduce their chances of getting blood clots.”
Patients are eligible to take part in the study if they have had a stroke within 36 hours of symptoms beginning.
All patients involved in the study will have a compression Doppler ultrasound of both legs at day seven and fourteen, to detect if they have any asymptomatic blood clots.
The study is being sponsored by Firstkind Ltd.
You can find out more about the RUH’s research into strokes on their website here.
