New technology can help stroke patients live a normal life.

Tampa, Florida -- In the past when patients suffered a stroke, there was not really a lot doctors could do for people. Doctors say it was just a watch and wait situation.

But now Doctors like Matthew Berlet from St. Joseph's Hospital are actively trying to reverse the signs of stroke. They can extract a clot in a person's brain and even have the technology to actually open a blockage.

Dr. Berlet says, "Now we are making a small hole in the groin, and with small catheters we actually snake them all the way up into the small blood vessels of the head without really performing any kind of incision."

He is talking about a relatively new device called the merci device.  It basically means they are taking the clot out.

Dr. Berlet says it is like a corkscrew device put into the groin and goes all the way up to the blood vessel in the neck.

Doctors at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa also use a second piece of tehnology that is helping save lives called the penumbra.

It works completely different that this is a mechanical disrupting device used to break apart the clot and suck it out so this little tiny catheter here used to put against the clot.

Dr. Berlet says while both of these new technologies are amazing,  it has to start with the patient. He says, "Right now we are at the point where we can get the patient to reverse these devastating factors if they can get to us in time."

There are two kinds of strokes: Ischemic strokes occur when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, usually by a blood clot originating from the carotid arteries. These arteries feed the head and brain with oxygen-rich blood. The cause is usually atherosclerotic plaques in one of the arteries.

Hemorrhagic strokes occur when there is bleeding into or around the brain.

Dr. Berlet will be holding a stroke awareness seminar on Thursday, August 28, at St. Joseph's Hospital in the Medical Arts building.  It will be at 6 pm and it is free.

If interested you must register at 813-870-4747.