The FDA cleared Viz.ai's clinical support tool on Feb. 13, allowing the software that alerts clinicians to the possibility of a stroke to be marketed in the United States. The product uses an algorithm to analyze CT images of the brain and send text notifications to neurovascular specialists if a large vessel blockage is present, according to the FDA's news release. The notification would be sent at the same time a radiologist is manually reviewing the images, potentially leading to faster treatment. Timely treatment is critical in stroke, the fifth-leading cause of death in the U.S. and a major cause of disability. About 795,000 Americans have a stroke each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Particularly in hospitals with limited local resources and/or limited access to neurologic expertise, telestroke is an important tool to aid in the evaluation and treatment of potential stroke,