Method and apparatus for determining changes in intracranial pressure utilizing measurement of the circumferential expansion or contraction of a patient's skull
US6746410B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 4, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jun 8, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 16, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B8/0875
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for measuring changes in intracranial pressure (ICP) utilizing the variation of the surface wave propagation parameters of the patient's skull to determine the change in ICP. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of transmitting an ultrasonic bulk compressional wave onto the surface of the skull at a predetermined angle with respect to the skull so as to produce a surface wave, receiving the surface wave at an angle with respect to the skull which is substantially the same as the predetermined angle and at a location that is a predetermined distance from where the ultrasonic bulk compressional wave was transmitted upon the skull, determining the retardation or advancement in phase of the received surface wave with respect to a reference phase, and processing the determined retardation or advancement in phase to determine circumferential expansion or contraction of the skull and utilizing the determined circumferential change to determine the change in intracranial pressure.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.