Brain assessment monitor

A non-invasive brain assessment monitor comprising:

• a brain sensor configured and adapted for mounting on a patient's head, wherein the brain sensor measures frequencies of up to about 20 kHz;
• a reference sensor configured and adapted for mounting at another location on the patient's body;
• and
• means for comparing signals from the brain sensor and the reference sensor to determine whether the patient has undergone a brain injury and/or brain disease.

A method of monitoring brain injury and/or brain disease of a patient, the method comprising:

• mounting a non-invasive brain sensor capable of measuring frequencies of up to about 20 kHz on the head of the patient to sense acoustic signals generated from pulsing blood flow characteristics through a patient's brain;
• sensing acoustic signals with the brain sensor generated from pulsing blood flow through the patient's brain;
• and
• analyzing the acoustic signals to determine whether the patient has undergone a brain injury and/or brain disease.

A method of monitoring brain injury and/or brain disease of a patient, the method comprising:

• mounting a non-invasive brain sensor to sense acoustic signals generated from pulsing blood flow characteristics capable of measuring frequencies of up to about 20 kHz on the patient's head to sense acoustic signals generated from pulsing blood flow characteristics through a patient's brain;
• mounting a reference sensor at another location on the patient's body;
• and
• comparing signals from the brain sensor and the reference sensor to determine whether the patient has undergone a brain injury and/or brain disease.

A non-invasive brain assessment monitor comprising:

• a brain sensor configured and adapted to sense acoustic signals generated from pulsing blood flow through a patient's brain;
• means for analyzing the acoustic signals in order to determine whether the patient has undergone a brain injury and/or brain disease;
• at least one reference sensor, adapted for mounting on a wrist of a patient and comprising an arterial pulse sensor, for sensing acoustic signals generated from another portion of the patient's body;
• and
• means for comparing the acoustic signals from the brain sensor and reference sensor without the application of an external signal.

A non-invasive brain assessment monitor comprising:

• a brain sensor configured and adapted to sense acoustic signals generated from pulsing blood flow through a patient's brain;
• means for analyzing the acoustic signals in order to determine whether the patient has undergone a brain injury and/or brain disease without the application of an external signal;
• and
• at least one actuator for generating additional acoustic signals in the brain.

A non-invasive brain assessment monitor comprising:

• a brain sensor configured and adapted to sense acoustic signals generated from pulsing blood flow through a patient's brain for mounting on a patient's head;
• a reference sensor configured and adapted for mounting at another location on the patient's body;
• and
• means for comparing signals from the brain sensor and the reference sensor to determine whether the patient has undergone a brain injury and/or brain disease without the application of an external signal, wherein the comparing means includes means for analyzing attenuation of signals from the brain sensor.

A non-invasive brain assessment monitor comprising:

• a brain sensor configured and adapted to sense acoustic signals generated from pulsing blood flow through a patient's brain for mounting on a patient's head;
• a reference sensor configured and adapted for mounting at another location on the patient's body;
• and
• means for comparing signals from the brain sensor and the reference sensor to determine whether the patient has undergone a brain injury and/or brain disease without the application of an external signal, wherein the comparing means includes means for analyzing distortion of signals from the brain sensor.

A non-invasive brain assessment monitor comprising:

• a brain sensor configured and adapted to sense acoustic signals generated from pulsing blood flow through a patient's brain for mounting on a patient's head;
• a reference sensor configured and adapted for mounting at another location on the patient's body;
• and
• means for comparing signals from the brain sensor and the reference sensor to determine whether the patient has undergone a brain injury and/or brain disease without the application of an external signal, wherein the comparing means comprises means for comparing positive and negative components of signals from the brain sensor.

A non-invasive brain assessment monitor comprising:

• a brain sensor configured and adapted to sense acoustic signals generated from pulsing blood flow through a patient's brain for mounting on a patient's head;
• a reference sensor configured and adapted for mounting at another location on the patient's body;
• and
• means for comparing signals from the brain sensor and the reference sensor to determine whether the patient has undergone a brain injury and/or brain disease without the application of an external signal;
• and
• at least one actuator for generating acoustic signals in the brain.