Bangkok, Thursday Septemer 24th, 2020 – RMA Automotive presented a state-of-the-art MobileStroke Unit to Siriraj Hospital at a handover ceremony in the hospital grounds.
Jointly designed and engineered by RMA Automotive (RMAA) and Mahidol University, the Mobile Stroke Unit enables doctors to treat a patient during the time critical window while transferring them to the hospital.
Siriraj Hospital liaising with Mahidol University, conceptualized the Stroke Recovery Vehicle to treat patients during their transfer to hospital, thereby increasing their recovery chances by 99%.
The vehicle is equipped with a CT scanner, monitors and connections to link the attendant doctors to the specialists at Siriraj Hospital; an examination area, shelving and storage, and an insulated cabin between the driver and patient area for medical practitioners. It uses clean and quiet battery packs instead of Diesel generators found in other similar vehicles.
Kevin Whitcraft, RMA Group CEO, attending the handover ceremony stated, “We are extremely proud of having developed this unique life saving vehicle. This was made possible by the close co-operation between our engineers at RMA Automotive and the doctors and specialists from Siriraj Hospital and Mahidol University.”
Development, planning and manufacture was done at RMA Automotive’s Assembly and Distribution Center in Laem Chabang, Thailand. Led by engineering and product development team Wallop Sakulimsap, Wichai Jaiboon and Sureeporn Nuchitprasittichai, the RMAA engineers designed and built the vehicle from the ground up, paying special attention to the use of light weight materials to keep the overall vehicle mass down. Thus the Mobile Stroke Unit retains the performance and handling it was designed with, allowing it to nimbly cut through traffic on route to hospital.
Stanley Chan, General Manager Group Product Development at RMAA points out “we placed much emphasis on weight distribution so as not to interfere with the vehicle’s safe handling and performance. Using a front mounted engine Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, more weight could be placed over the rear axle to accommodate the heavy medical equipment, the patient and medical attendants.”
Further weight savings were achieved using a state of the art self-lifting stretcher developed by Ferno, in place of a hydraulic operated built in stretcher hoist.
The first Mobile Stroke Unit will be deployed by Siriraj Hospital immediately with another two more units on order.