A non-invasive method of estimating intra-cranial pressure (ICP). The method including the steps of: a. non-invasively measuring pressure pulses in an upper body artery; b. determining central aortic pressure (CAP) pulses that correspond to these measured pressure pulses; c. identifying features of the ICP wave which denote cardiac ejection and wave reflection from the cranium, including Ejection Duration (ED) and Augmentation Index of Pressure (PAIx); d. non-invasively measuring flow pulses in a central artery which supplies blood to the brain within the cranium; e. identifying features of the measured cerebral flow waves which denote cardiac ejection and wave reflection from the cranium as Flow Augmentation Index (FAIx); f. calculating an ICP flow augmentation index from the measured central flow pulses; g. comparing the calculated ICP pressure augmentation index (PAIx) and flow augmentation index (FAIx) to measure (gender-specific) pressure and flow augmentation data indicative of a measured ICP to thereby estimate actual ICP; and h. noting any disparity between ED measured for pressure waves and ED measured for flow.

The invention includes a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt and a method of operating it. The shunt includes: a ventricular catheter for transferring CSF from the ventricle of a brain of a patient; a pressure sensor communicated to the ventricular catheter to measure the pressure of the CSF as delivered to the pressure sensor; a temperature sensor communicated to the ventricular catheter to measure the temperature of the CSF as delivered to the temperature sensor; a wireless data transmitter to transmit the measured pressure and temperature to an attending physician; a nonprogrammable reporting valve or programmable valve communicated to the pressure sensor and temperature sensor to regulate flow of the CSF; and peritoneal tubing communicated to the programmable valve for delivering CSF to the peritoneal cavity.

Embodiments of the present systems and methods may provide improved, automated monitoring of brain function. In embodiments, a multimodal, multi-sensor monitoring device may provide to monitoring of the full spectrum of brain function. In an embodiment, a system for monitoring brain function of a subject may include an apparatus for mounting a plurality of stimulus and response sensors on a head of the subject, including a cognizance stimuli-sensor suite, a physiologic sensor suite, and advance monitoring devices such as a transcranial Doppler puck, an electroencephalograph monitor, and an optic nerve sheath parameter sensor.

A method of assessing intracranial hemorrhage in a subject may include at a first time point: measuring, for a plurality of times, optical density (OD) value at first location on a first side of a head of the subject at a first time point, and a first corresponding location on a second side of the head of the subject. Change in optical density (ΔOD) is computed by subtracting each OD value measured on the first side from each corresponding OD value measured on the second side. A predetermined number of largest absolute ΔOD values are eliminated from the ΔOD values and a first average ΔOD value is computed by averaging the remainder of ΔOD values. The process is repeated at a second time point to obtain a second average ΔOD. Progression of intracranial hemorrhage is determined based on a difference between the first average ΔOD and the second average ΔOD.

A method for controlling intraocular pressure in a patient’s eye is provided. The method includes creating an intraocular entry into the eye, selecting a location along an optical disc of the eye, creating a conduit connecting at least a portion of an intravitreal cavity with at least a portion of a subarachnoid space in the eye at the selected location, deploying at least one stent communicating between the intravitreal cavity and the subarachnoid space via the conduit, and equilibrating the intraocular pressure in the eye by allowing the stent to communicate fluid flow between the intraocular compartment and the subarachnoid space.

Non-invasive measurement of intracranial pressure (ICP), for example mean ICP. A probe adjacent the head emits energy, such as ultrasound, and receives reflected signals. A processing unit derives ICP waveform from the signals. A pressure mechanism applies external pressure intermittently to outer surface of the head and incrementally increases the external pressure. The processing unit is configured to detect a decrease in amplitude of the ICP waveform (occurring in some embodiments only after an intermediate period of ICRS compensation), the processing unit configured to determine the ICP of the person from a sum of applied external pressures from a time of the initial value A1 until a final value at which the amplitude remains stable with additional increase in applied external pressure. In some cases, the final value is earlier than that but the processing unit extrapolates the sum to when the amplitude remains stable with additional increases in pressure.

A system for implantable automatic wireless intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring is disclosed, including a control device and an implantable pressure transducer assembly. The implantable pressure transducer assembly is configured to be partially implanted in a skull of an individual being monitored, and the control device communicates and transfers data with the implantable pressure transducer assembly in a wireless manner. The system for implantable automatic wireless ICP monitoring can achieve easy and rapid ICP monitoring and entails a one-to-multiple mode in which multiple individuals can be simultaneously monitored by the single system based on wireless communications in WiFi, Bluetooth or a non-standard protocol.

Non-invasive intracranial pressure detection and/or monitoring and use of data with respect thereto. Illustratively, with respect to a method, there can be a method to digitally produce and communicate intracranial pressure data from skull deformation electric signals, the method including: receiving, from at least one sensor, detected skull deformation electric signals at electrical equipment configured to transform and process the skull deformation signals that are received; transforming and processing, by the electrical equipment, the received skull deformation electric signals to produce digital intracranial pressure data; and outputting, by the electrical equipment, the digital intracranial pressure data via an output device operably associated with the electrical equipment to render the digital intracranial pressure data.

A system which includes a first sensor placed proximate to a perfusion field of an artery receiving blood which emanates from the cranial cavity is configured to monitor pulsations of the artery receiving blood which emanates from the cranial cavity artery. A second sensor placed proximate to a perfusion field of an artery which does not receive blood emanating from the cranial cavity and approximately the same distance from the heart as the first sensor configured to monitor pulsations of the artery which does not receive blood emanating from the cranial cavity. A third sensor placed distally from a heart is configured to monitor pulsations of a distal artery. A processing system responsive to signals from the first, second, and third sensors is configured to determine intracranial pressure.

A system and method for non-invasively estimating an absolute blood flow of a vascular region in a subject using optical data are provided. In some aspects, the method includes acquiring optical data from the vascular region using one or more optical sensors placed about the subject, and determining, using the optical data, an index of blood flow and a blood volume associated with the vascular region. The method also includes computing a blood inflow and a blood outflow using the index of blood flow and the blood volume, and estimating an absolute blood flow using the blood inflow and blood outflow. The method further includes generating a report indicative of the absolute blood flow of the vascular region.