US 8,894,584 B2Granted

Real time CSF flow measurement system and method

AssigneeShuntCheck, Inc.

InventorsMarek Swoboda, Matias Gabriel Hochman, Mark Evan Mattiucci, Frederick J. Fritz

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Abstract

A system for measuring quantitative CSF flow in shunt tubing implanted under the skin. The system includes an array of thermosensors clustered in three sections, cooling device, placed on the skin surface and an associated data acquisition and analysis device. Two sensor sections are placed over the shunt on the skin and measure real time temperature responses related to CSF movement. One array placed adjacent the cooling device collects data on thermal properties of skin including skin thermal condictivity, specific heat, diffusivity, perfusion, and thermal inertia. The method involves assessing thermal properties of skin and measuring CSF flow in shunt tubing. The method is useful for shunt patency assessment, CSF valve adjustment procedures and CSF flow measurements related to CSF over drainage. Alternatively, only one section of sensors need be used when determining relative CSF flow, without the need to determine thermal skin properties and by applying the cooling device continuously.

Claims26

Dependent claims

An apparatus for determining cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow rate in an implanted CSF shunt, said apparatus comprising:

a pad that is configured to be placed against the skin of a patient over the location of the CSF shunt, said pad comprising:
a first plurality of temperature sensors that are configured to be aligned in a transverse direction with respect to said CSF shunt and wherein one of said first plurality of temperature sensors is configured to be aligned with the CSF shunt;
and
a second plurality of temperature sensors that are configured to be aligned in a transverse direction with respect to said CSF shunt, downstream of said first plurality of temperature sensors, and wherein one of said second plurality of temperature sensors is configured to be aligned with the CSF shunt;
and
a third plurality of temperature sensors associated with a temperature source that are configured to be positioned over the CSF shunt whenever said pad is placed against the skin;
and
a sensor processing device that is electrically coupled to said pad for receiving temperature data from each of said plurality of temperature sensors, said sensor processing device configured to use said temperature data to remove the effects of skin depth of CSF shunt implantation, skin thermal conductivity and skin thermal diffusivity from temperature data collected by said first, second and third pluralities of temperature sensors, and said sensor processing device further configured to determine a flow rate of said CSF through said CSF shunt when a temperature source is applied to said pad.

5 more elements

A method for determining cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow rate in an implanted CSF shunt, said method comprising:

applying a first plurality of temperature sensors against the skin over the location of the CSF shunt and wherein only one of said first plurality of temperature sensors is aligned with the CSF shunt;
applying a second plurality of temperature sensors against the skin over the location of the CSF shunt, downstream of said first plurality of temperature sensors, and wherein only one of said second plurality of temperature sensors is aligned with the CSF shunt;
associating a third plurality of temperature sensors with a temperature source, said temperature source being applied against the skin aligned with the CSF shunt;
collecting temperature data from said first, second and third plurality of temperature sensors after a predetermined period of time has elapsed;
removing the effects of skin depth of CSF shunt implantation, skin thermal conductivity and skin thermal diffusivity;
and
determining a flow rate of the CSF through the CSF shunt from said resultant temperature signal.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/698,689Filed 27 May 2011 · us provisional application
Priority: 28 May 2010
Published: US 2013/0109998 A12 May 2013
Granted: 25 Nov 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

A61M 27/006
Implant devices for drainage of body fluids from one part of the body to another: cerebrospinal drainage; Accessories therefor, e.g. valves
A61B 5/01
Measuring for diagnostic purposes ; Identification of persons: measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for…
A61B 5/031
Measuring fluid pressure within the body other than blood pressure, e.g. cerebral pressure ; Measuring pressure in body tissues or organs:…
A61B 5/032
Measuring fluid pressure within the body other than blood pressure, e.g. cerebral pressure ; Measuring pressure in body tissues or organs: spinal…