Non-invasive intracranial pressure monitoring system and method thereof
Inventors
Assignees
Publication Number
US-10264986-B2
Publication Date
2019-04-23
Expiration Date
2033-07-11
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Abstract
A system which includes a first sensor placed proximate to a perfusion field of an artery receiving blood which emanates from the cranial cavity is configured to monitor pulsations of the artery receiving blood which emanates from the cranial cavity artery. A second sensor placed proximate to a perfusion field of an artery which does not receive blood emanating from the cranial cavity configured to monitor pulsations of the artery which does not receive blood emanating from the cranial cavity. A third sensor configured to monitor pulsations of a distal artery. A processing system responsive to signals from the first, second, and third sensors is configured to determine intracranial pressure.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a non-invasive intracranial pressure monitoring system and method that use multiple sensors placed on specific arteries to determine intracranial pressure (ICP) without direct access to the cranial cavity. It includes a first sensor placed proximate to a perfusion field of an artery that receives blood emanating from the cranial cavity (such as the supraorbital artery), a second sensor placed proximate to a perfusion field of an artery that does not receive blood from the cranial cavity (such as a branch of the external carotid artery), and a third distal sensor placed on a distal artery (such as on a finger, hand, or forearm). A processing subsystem correlates, compares, and combines signals from these sensors to determine ICP.
The system addresses the difficulty and impracticality of monitoring intracranial pressure non-invasively and continuously, especially in field settings such as battlefields or sports sites. Conventional imaging methods like CT or MRI are large, power intensive, and often cannot detect mild brain swelling or elevated intracranial pressure, which can cause further brain damage or death if untreated. Current methods that rely on measuring physical trauma do not accurately reflect individual variability or actual intracranial damage.
The invention solves this problem by providing a portable, robust, lightweight, and low-power system that non-invasively monitors intracranial pressure by comparing pulsatile signals sensed from arteries that receive cranial blood flow with those that do not, using the distal artery sensor as a reference. The method uses differences in the vascular compliance and pressure wave propagation speeds in these arteries influenced by ICP to calculate the intracranial pressure accurately and continuously. This system enables timely medical intervention and monitoring in scenarios where traditional direct ICP measurement or imaging is impractical.
Claims Coverage
The patent includes two independent systems and two independent methods claims incorporating three sensors and a processing subsystem for non-invasive intracranial pressure determination.
Three-sensor system using sensor signal subtraction and comparison to distal signal
A system comprising: a first sensor placed proximate to a perfusion field of an artery receiving blood from the cranial cavity configured to monitor its pulsations; a second sensor placed proximate to a perfusion field of an artery which does not receive blood from the cranial cavity and placed approximately the same distance from the heart as the first sensor configured to monitor its pulsations; a third distal sensor to monitor a distal artery; and a processing subsystem that determines an indication of intracranial pressure by subtracting the first sensor signal from the second sensor signal, producing a resultant signal where the first and second sensor signals are mathematically equal in at least one measure, and comparing the resultant signal to the third sensor signal.
Three-sensor system for monitoring specific arteries with signal subtraction and comparison to distal signal
A system comprising: a first sensor placed proximate to the supraorbital artery to monitor its pulsations; a second sensor placed proximate to a branch of the external carotid artery approximately the same distance from the heart as the first sensor to monitor its pulsations; a third distal sensor to monitor a distal artery; and a processing subsystem that determines an indication of intracranial pressure by subtracting the first sensor signal from the second sensor signal, producing a resultant signal where the first and second sensor signals are mathematically equal in at least one measure, and comparing the resultant signal to the third sensor signal.
Method for non-invasively determining intracranial pressure by three-sensor signal subtraction and comparison
A method comprising: monitoring pulsations of an artery receiving blood from the cranial cavity and generating first signals; monitoring pulsations of an artery not receiving blood from the cranial cavity and generating second signals; monitoring pulsations of a distal artery and generating third signals; and determining intracranial pressure by subtracting the first sensor signal from the second sensor signal where they are mathematically equal in at least one measure, and comparing the resultant signal to the third sensor signal.
Method for non-invasively determining intracranial pressure by monitoring specific arteries with signal subtraction and comparison
A method comprising: monitoring pulsations of the supraorbital artery with first signals; monitoring pulsations of the external carotid artery with second signals; monitoring pulsations of a distal artery with third signals; and determining intracranial pressure by subtracting the first sensor signal from the second sensor signal where they are mathematically equal in at least one measure, and comparing the resultant signal to the third sensor signal.
The independent claims cover systems and methods using three sensors placed on specified arteries and a processing subsystem that determines intracranial pressure by mathematically subtracting and comparing sensor signals, emphasizing the use of signal equality in at least one measure and comparison with a distal artery sensor.
Stated Advantages
Enables accurate, efficient, effective, continuous, and non-invasive determination of intracranial pressure.
Small, robust, lightweight, and low power consumption, allowing portability and use in field environments such as battlefields and sports settings.
Provides timely and reliable intracranial pressure monitoring to detect brain injury extent and facilitate prompt medical intervention.
Less sensitive to sensor placement or motion artifacts due to use of near-infrared sensors and optical signals rather than tonometry-based systems.
Documented Applications
Use in battlefield or field settings to monitor soldiers who may have suffered brain trauma from blunt force or blast injury.
Use in sports-related injuries to monitor athletes for mild brain swelling or elevated intracranial pressure.
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