Apparatus for measuring intracranial pressure
US4984567A · kind A · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 17, 1989 |
| Grant date | Jan 15, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 17, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B5/7257
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention relates to an apparatus for measuring the intracranial pressure of a living body or patient utilizing ultrasonic waves. An ultrasonic pulse is transmitted as triggered by a trigger signal into the cranium from an ultrasonic probe placed outside the cranium of the living body, the data of an interference reflection wave caused by the multiple reflections of the incident waves at the interstital boundaries within the cranium is analyzed for frequency, and the time difference between the element waves of the interference reflection wave is calculated and delivered as output. Thus, the dura mater thickness and its change are measured, and the intracranial pressure and its change can be measured utilizing the correlation between the intracranial pressure and dura mater thickness. The most of the conventional measurements of intracranial pressure are done with an invasion to the cranium, and some noninvasive techniques have been proposed but their accuracy and costs are far from the level at which they can be satisfactorily used. The apparatus according to the present invention permits to measure the intracranial pressure from outside the cranium, easily, safely, hi…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.