8 April 2013 Last updated at 06:22 ET
Researchers in Glasgow are pioneering a new treatment which could help save at-risk brain tissue in stroke patients.
It uses oxygen, oxygen-carrying drugs and MRI scans to identify the penumbra - viable tissue surrounding the dead area in the brain caused by a stroke.
Oxygen is then delivered to the tissue - helping protect brain function.
Current clot buster drugs are only viable for 4.5 hours after a stroke. The new approach, described as a "Holy Grail", allows treatment for 48 hours.
The technique - Glasgow Oxygen Level Dependent (Gold) - has been developed by a team from Glasgow's Southern General neuro radiology department, department of clinical physics and Glasgow University.
Neuroradiologist Dr Celestine Santosh said it could revolutionise the way stroke patients are diagnosed and treated.
He said: "Currently every clinician is treating acute stroke with clot buster drugs while always watching the clock as this treatment is only licensed for use up to 4.5 hours after stroke.
"This obviously has major limitations as one third of all stroke patients don't know the time of their onset of symptoms.
We realise this is a unique project which has the possibility to change the way we diagnose and treat stroke
Visit link:
'Holy Grail' in stroke treatment