Non-Surgical, In-Stent Membrane Bioelectronics for Long-Term Intracranial Pressure Monitoring.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Neuroscience
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Traditional intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring methods, such as intraventricular catheters, are invasive and prone to issues like drift and calibration complexity.
• These limitations hinder effective long-term and stable ICP monitoring, impacting patient outcomes in neurocritical care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a non-surgical, in-stent membrane bioelectronic system for continuous and reliable ICP monitoring.
• To overcome the invasiveness and data limitations associated with conventional ICP monitoring techniques.

Main Methods:

• Integration of a capacitive thin-film sensor with a stent for implantation within the dural venous sinus.
• Development of a calibration-free and drift-free system for real-time ICP fluctuation detection.
• In vivo studies comparing the novel system's performance against conventional microcatheters.

Main Results:

• The in-stent sensor demonstrated high sensitivity (0.052%/mmHg) and a wide pressure range (3-30 mmHg).
• The system exhibited calibration-free and drift-free performance with superior sensitivity, rapid sampling, and long-term stability in vivo.
• Statistical analysis showed strong agreement between the novel device and clinical reference measurements.

Conclusions:

• The non-surgical bioelectronic system offers a promising alternative for continuous and reliable ICP monitoring.
• This technology has the potential to revolutionize ICP monitoring by minimizing complications and improving patient outcomes in neurocritical care.