Ultrasonic apparatus and technique to measure changes in intracranial pressure
US6475147B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 27, 2000 |
| Grant date | Nov 5, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 27, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B5/4064
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Changes in intracranial pressure can be measured dynamically and non-invasively by monitoring one or more cerebrospinal fluid pulsatile components. Pulsatile components such as systolic and diastolic blood pressures are partially transferred to the cerebrospinal fluid by way of blood vessels contained in the surrounding brain tissue and membrane. As intracranial pressure varies these cerebrospinal fluid pulsatile components also vary. Thus, intracranial pressure can be dynamically measured. Furthermore, use of acoustics allows the measurement to be completely non-invasive. In the preferred embodiment, phase comparison of a reflected acoustic signal to a reference signal using a constant frequency pulsed phase-locked-loop ultrasonic device allows the pulsatile components to be monitored. Calibrating the device by inducing a known change in intracranial pressure allows conversion to changes in intracranial pressure.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.