CSF shunt flow evaluation apparatus and method using a conformable expanded dynamic range thermosensor

An apparatus for measuring changes in skin temperature above a CSF shunt positioned under the skin of a patient, said apparatus comprising:

• a sensor pad having a body comprising a plurality of temperature sensors that are positioned transversely across said body at predetermined positions, said plurality of temperature sensors being aligned such that when said sensor pad is applied to the skin over the CSF shunt, one of said plurality of temperature sensors is positioned over the CSF shunt while the remaining plurality of temperature sensors are equally positioned on opposite sides of the CSF shunt;
• each of said temperature sensors configured to generate respective temperature data related to movement of a temperature pulse introduced into the CSF shunt from a cold source, of a size larger than said pad, applied to the skin for a predetermined period;
• said body further comprising an alignment member that protrudes from an edge of said pad, said alignment member acting as a guide for a user in positioning said cold source adjacent said pad and against the skin of the patient to maintain said cold source at a predetermined upstream position away from said plurality of temperature sensors over the CSF shunt, wherein said sensor pad is disposable;
• and
• a sensor processing device that is electrically coupled to said sensor pad for receiving temperature data from each of said temperature sensors, said sensor processing device comprising an algorithm for taking a difference between said temperature data of said one of said plurality of temperature sensors that is positioned over the CSF shunt and an average of said temperature data of said remaining plurality of temperature sensors positioned on opposite sides of the CSF shunt, said algorithm adjusting said difference between said temperature data based on the location of the CSF shunt below the skin surface by multiplying said temperature difference by a ratio of actual skin thickness to average skin thickness.