Graphic: Siemens Healthineers
Oct. 21, 2025 — At the seventeenth edition of the World Stroke Congress in Barcelona, Siemens Healthineers will present the Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU). This is the first mobile unit capable of diagnosing and treating stroke at the location where it occurs.
This Mobile Unit is designed to transform stroke care by allowing for much earlier diagnosis and treatment, which is essential in the case of a cerebrovascular accident. It is a specialized ambulance that, operated by a team of specialized neurology professionals, features advanced technologies — including computed tomography (CT), telemedicine, and a point-of-care lab — that help medical teams more efficiently triage stroke patients, reducing the time and costs associated with repeat imaging and emergency room waits.
Through implementation of the MSU, Siemens Healthineers has been able to report lower mortality rates at 90 days following a stroke, as well as improve the functional outcomes of patients. Furthermore, treatment time is 36 minutes faster, and more than half of the patients treated with the Mobile Unit achieve full recovery after three months, compared to 43% with conventional care.
Although the unit will be available during the World Stroke Congress in November, it was presented at a Pre-Congress Meeting, a gathering organized , by the Hospital Universitario Vall d’Hebron to mark the start of the convention. Among many professionals in the sector, the event was attended by Dr. Carlos Molina, Head of the Stroke Unit at Hospital Universitario Vall d’Hebron and local president of the World Stroke Congress 2025.
At this meeting, Siemens Healthineers also showcased its interactive Virtual Reality experience: Time is Brain. Through this tool, users can experience a cerebrovascular accident firsthand and follow the phases required for its management from multiple perspectives (especially patients and healthcare professionals). At this meeting, the company fully adapted it to the clinician's perspective, so attendees were able to actively participate in the diagnosis and treatment process.
The Virtual Reality experience underscores the need to coordinate the role of medical personnel with digitalization, and reinforces the message of how collaborative solutions and connected technology can save lives and reduce risks. “In stroke treatment, time is brain. To minimize neurological sequelae, it is essential that treatment is carried out with the greatest possible speed. Technology is our best ally in this regard; developing solutions and equipment in close collaboration with medical teams is indispensable” explains Dr. Carlos Molina, Head of the Stroke Unit and Coordinator of the Stroke Process at Vall d'Hebron.
A Model for the Future of Neurology
Siemens Healthineers maintains a firm commitment to neurology as a strategic area and, aware of the importance of collaborating with public institutions to multiply the impact on healthcare innovation, maintains a close collaboration with the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital.
Together, they share the Umbrella project. Led by a European consortium of 20 public and private partners, with Vall d'Hebron and Siemens Healthineers at the forefront, this program seeks to significantly improve stroke diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation. It has received an investment of over 26 million euros, through which innovative solutions based on AI and advanced digital technologies are already being developed and implemented.
Prior to the launch of this project in 2024, Vall d’Hebron hosted the One Step Stroke device, a care model similar to the MSU, though not mobile. This facility allows severely affected stroke patients to be transferred directly to the center's angiography room for immediate diagnosis and treatment, eliminating intermediate steps and gaining crucial minutes. All of this promotes the ultra-fast coordination of all necessary professionals and resources.
[1]Siemens Healthineers. Mobile Stroke Unit. https://www.siemens-healthineers.com/en-us/computed-tomography/mobile-stroke-unit
July 29, 2025 
