Aims:
Stroke incidence increases markedly with age. This study examines the design research of a portable on-site “Head CT” scanner intended for pre-hospital stroke diagnosis with particular relevance to ageing population
Methods:
An applied design research was conducted through a collaboration between an academic design research group and a medical imaging manufacturer. Methods included ethnographic observation of pre-hospital stroke workflows, interviews with clinicians and developing full-scale prototypes through iterative design testing. Design decisions were evaluated against known clinical challenges including safe patient handling, positioning tolerance, cognitive load, and minimisation of procedural steps.
Results:
The research produced a working prototype of a portable “Head CT system” that can be integrated into standard road ambulances. Key design features included elimination of patient transfers to the emergency department for diagnostic imaging. Radiolucent positioning aids were developed to accommodate kyphosis and limited cervical extension. Deployment and alignment steps were simplified to reduce cognitive and physical burden.
Conclusions:
This study demonstrates that incorporating considerations for elderly patients into the applied design of pre-hospital diagnostic technology can improve inclusivity, safety, and workflow efficiency. Designing systems that reduce transfers, handling, and procedural complexity may be particularly beneficial for older adults during acute stroke assessment.