Spinal Bone Marrow Saline Injection for CSF Leak Localization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for diagnosing and treating cerebrospinal fluid hypovolemia, such as MRI, CT myelography, and RI cerebral scintigraphy, are ineffective in accurately specifying the leakage part of cerebrospinal fluid, leading to low success rates and side effects from contrast media and radiation exposure.

Innovation Solution

Injecting a large amount of saline into the bone-marrow space of the spine to detect cerebrospinal fluid leaks and specify the leakage part using fat-suppressed T2-weighted sagittal images, followed by an epidural blood patch to treat the identified leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If CT myelography or RI cerebral scintigraphy is used to specify leakage part of CSF, then diagnosis capability is improved, but side effects from contrast medium and radiation exposure occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleakage part specification accuracyVSAvoidcontrast medium side effects and radiation exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a disposable, non-radiative contrast agent (gas or liquid that does not require radiation detection) to replace RI cerebral scintigraphy and CT myelography. This eliminates radiation exposure and contrast medium side effects while maintaining the ability to detect CSF leakage through simple imaging techniques.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the complex radiation-based detection system (RI scintigraphy, CT myelography) with a simpler mechanical/imaging system that uses non-radiative contrast agents and standard MRI or ultrasound imaging, thereby eliminating radiation exposure and reducing contrast medium requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If conventional imaging methods (MRI, CT myelography, RI scintigraphy) are used to detect CSF leakage, then diagnosis is performed, but leakage part cannot be specified in many cases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleakage part specification accuracyVSAvoiddiagnosis success rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the contrast agent (using gas or liquid with specific density or magnetic properties) to enhance visibility against CSF background. This parameter change enables reliable detection and localization of leakage parts that were previously invisible or indistinct in conventional imaging.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a contrast agent that creates a visible signal change (analogous to color changes) between the contrasted area and surrounding tissues. This signal enhancement makes leakage parts clearly distinguishable in imaging, significantly improving both detection accuracy and localization capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

3Measurement precision

If lumbar puncture is performed to measure CSF pressure, then CSF pressure can be measured, but leakage part cannot be specified

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveCSF pressure measurement accuracyVSAvoidleakage part location information

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines CSF pressure measurement with leakage detection and localization into a single integrated procedure. By injecting the contrast agent during or after lumbar puncture and using imaging to track its distribution, the system simultaneously obtains pressure data and leakage location information, eliminating the need for separate diagnostic steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method safely and accurately identifies cerebrospinal fluid leaks and their locations, reducing the need for contrast media and radiation, thereby improving diagnosis and treatment effectiveness for cerebrospinal fluid hypovolemia.

Implementation Method 1

detecting the cerebrospinal fluid or the injected saline leaked from a dura mater of the spine to specify the leakage part of the cerebrospinal fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMRI imaging:

Implementation Method 2

detected by a fat-suppressed T2-weighted sagittal image

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFat suppression:

Implementation Method 3

In epidural blood patch, autologous blood is injected into extradural space at a leakage part of CSF and coagulated to patch the leakage part

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCoagulation: Coagulation

Data Source

PatentUS9907864B1Method for specifying leakage part of cerebrospinal fluid in cerebrospinal fluid hypovolemia patient, and method for treating cerebrospinal fluid hypovolemia

Publication Date: 2018.03.06 NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION KOCHI UNIVERSITY

AI summary

The objective of the present invention to provide a method for accurately and safely specifying a leakage part of cerebrospinal fluid in a cerebrospinal fluid hypovolemia patient, and a method for effectively treating cerebrospinal fluid hypovolemia with utilizing the specifying method. The method for specifying a leakage part of cerebrospinal fluid in a cerebrospinal fluid hypovolemia patient according to the present invention is characterized in comprising the steps of injecting saline into a bone-marrow space of a spine of the cerebrospinal fluid hypovolemia patient, and detecting the cerebrospinal fluid or the injected saline leaked from a dura mater of the spine to specify the leakage part of the cerebrospinal fluid.