Brain Pulsatility Monitoring via Optical Surface Displacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring brain firmness during open-brain surgery are subjective and prone to inaccurate assessments, leading to potential complications such as cerebral ischemia, edema, and cardiovascular problems due to erroneous compensation of treatments.
Innovation Solution
A non-invasive, non-contact system for measuring brain pulsatility using a surface-measuring sensor and electronic controller, which calculates a metric indicative of brain pulsatility based on the ratio of change in brain volume to arterial blood pressure, and provides alerts and medication dosing recommendations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual tactile assessment by medical professionals is used to evaluate brain firmness, then the method is simple and requires no additional equipment, but the measurement precision and reliability are poor leading to inaccurate determinations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual tactile mechanical assessment system with an optical measurement system. A sensor positioned near the brain surface optically detects brain surface displacement in response to applied pressure, converting the mechanical assessment into an optical measurement that provides quantitative, objective data about brain compliance without requiring subjective tactile interpretation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a sensor as an intermediary between the applied pressure and the measurement process. The sensor acts as a mediator that translates the mechanical interaction (pressure applied to brain) into measurable optical signals, providing an objective bridge between the physical stimulus and the quantitative assessment of brain firmness
2Reliability
If subjective tactile assessment is used to evaluate brain compliance, then no additional monitoring equipment is needed, but erroneous assessments lead to complications such as cerebral ischemia and edema
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the sensor continuously monitors brain surface displacement and provides real-time quantitative information about brain compliance. This feedback loop enables dynamic adjustment of surgical procedures and compensation strategies based on actual measured values, preventing erroneous assessments and allowing timely intervention to avoid complications
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the unreliable mechanical tactile assessment with a precise optical measurement system that objectively quantifies brain compliance through measured displacement responses to applied pressure, eliminating subjective errors that lead to harmful outcomes
3Object-affected harmful factors
If non-invasive non-contact measurement is implemented, then patient safety is improved and subjective errors are eliminated, but the device complexity and measurement system requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces invasive mechanical measurement methods with non-contact optical sensing. The optical sensor measures brain surface displacement without physical contact or invasion, eliminating risks associated with invasive procedures while maintaining measurement accuracy through optical detection of surface movements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses light as an intermediary to perform measurements without direct physical contact. The optical sensor uses light interactions to detect brain surface displacement, serving as a non-invasive mediator that transfers information about brain compliance without requiring physical penetration or contact with the brain tissue
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are presented for monitoring brain pulsatility. A change in volume of the brain is estimated based at least in part on an output of a non-contact, surface measuring sensor (e.g., a distance sensor or a camera). A metric indicative of brain pulsatility is then calculated based at least in part on a ratio of the estimated change in volume of the brain relative to a change in arterial blood pressure.