Probe and apparatus for measuring cerebral hemodynamics and oxygenation

• US 20040039270A1
• Filed: 08/11/2003
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universität Zürich
• Original Assignee: Universität Zürich
• Inventors: Niederer, Peter, Nadler, Andreas, Keller, Emmaneula
• Granted Patent: US 7,120,481 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/322
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0261 using optical means, e.g. infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/031 Intracranial pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14553 specially adapted for cerebral tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6864 Burr holes

Abstract

The invention relates to a probe (1) and an apparatus for cerebral diagnostics and therapy, in particular for measuring absolute values of regional cerebral flow (CBF) and cerebral oxygenation. The probe is inserted through a burr hole in the skull and comprises illuminating means, light receiving means and a coating encapsulating said illuminating means and said light receiving means. The coating has a longitudinal shape and is adapted to fit through a burr hole in the skull. Said coating is further adapted to slide between the skull and the dura, to be inserted into the ventricular system, and/or to be inserted into the cerebral tissue.

Claims

1. A probe for cerebral diagnostics and/or therapy, in particular for measuring characteristics of cerebral hemodynamics and oxygenation by optical reflectance, comprising:

illuminating means;

light receiving means;

a coating encapsulating said illuminating means and said light receiving means,

said coating having a longitudinal shape and being adapted to fit through a burr hole in the skull,

said coating further being adapted to at least one of the following;

sliding between the skull and the dura, being inserted into the ventricular system, being inserted into the cerebral tissue.

2. Probe (1, 32) according to claim 1, wherein the coating is made of silicone rubber or polyurethane.

3. Probe (1, 32) according to one of the preceding claims, having a width (W) less than about 20 mm, preferably 5 to 10 mm, and a thickness (T) less than about 5 mm, preferably about 2 mm.

4. Probe (1, 32) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a pressure sensor (43) and signal transfer means (44) connected to it for transmitting signals containing pressure information.

5. Probe according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising means for the transfer and release of a substance into the cerebral tissue and/or into the ventricular system.

6. Probe (1, 32) according to one of the preceding claims,

wherein the illuminating means comprise first optical transmission means (2, 37) including at least one first optical fiber (4), and first deflection means (6, 39) coupled to the first optical transmission means (2, 37) for deflection of transmitted light (30) into a direction other than the direction of light transmission within the first optical transmission means (2, 37),

and wherein the light receiving means comprise second optical transmission means (3, 38) including at least one second optical fiber (5), and second deflection means (7, 40) coupled to the second optical transmission means (3, 38) for deflection of light (31) into the second optical transmission means (3, 38), the light (31) coming from a direction other than the direction of light transmission within the second optical transmission means (3, 38).

7. Probe (1, 32) according to claim 6, wherein the first and second deflection means (6, 39;

7, 40) deflect light into respectively from a direction (B) substantially vertical to the direction (A) of light propagation in the transmission means (2, 37;

3, 38).

8. Probe (1, 32) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the first and second deflection means (6, 39;

7, 40) are located at a distance (D1) from each other of 20 to 50 mm, preferably 30 to 40 mm.

9. Probe (1, 32) according to one of claims 6-8, wherein the first and second deflection means (6, 39;

7, 40) include a mirror (10, 11) oriented at approximately 45°

with respect to the direction of the first respectively second optical transmission means (2, 37;

3, 38).

10. Probe (1, 32) according to claim 9, wherein the mirror (10, 11) is a prism (8, 9).

11. Probe (1, 32) according to one of claims 6-10, wherein the face (42) of the at least one first or second fiber (41) at the distal end of the first respectively second transmission means (2, 37;

3, 38) is oriented at approximately 45°

with respect to the direction of light propagation (A) within the first respectively second optical transmission means (2, 37;

3, 38).

12. Probe (1, 32) according to one of claims 6-11, wherein the first and second optical transmission means (2, 37;

3, 38) each include a plurality of first respectively second optical fibers (4, 5), the fibers (4, 5) being arranged in a common plane (53).

13. Probe (1, 32) according to one of claims 6-12, wherein the coating (12, 12′

) includes an optical window (13, 14) in the region of the first and second deflection means (6, 39;

7, 40).

14. Probe (1, 32) according to one of claims 6-13, wherein the first and second optical fibers (4, 5) are suited to transmit light within the near infrared region of 700 to 1300 nm spectral range, preferably 750 to 950 nm.

15. Probe according to claim 1, wherein the illuminating means comprise at least one light emitting device, and the light receiving means comprise at least one light detecting device.

16. Probe according to claim 15, wherein the light emitting device is powered via a first electric. wiring and the light detecting device generates an electric signal transmitted via a second electric wiring.

17. Probe according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the light emitting device comprises a light emitting diode (LED) or a diode laser,

preferably emitting in the near infrared region of 700 to 1300 nm spectral range, and the light detecting device comprises a receiver diode.

18. Probe according to one of claims 15-17, wherein the illuminating means comprise a plurality of light emitting devices.

19. Apparatus for cerebral diagnostics and/or therapy, in particular for measuring characteristics of cerebral hemodynamics and oxygenation through a burr hole (47) in the skull (46) by optical reflectance, comprising

a probe (1, 32) according to one of the preceding claims, and evaluation means (28) for the evaluation of the detected signals.

20. Apparatus for cerebral diagnostics and/or therapy, in particular for measuring characteristics of cerebral hemodynamics and oxygenation through a burr hole (47) in the skull (46) by optical reflectance, comprising

a probe (1, 32) according to one of claims 6-14,

light emitting means (24) being coupled with the proximal end (21) of the first transmission means (2, 37),

light detecting means (25) being coupled with the proximal end (22) of the second transmission means (3, 38),

and evaluation means (28) for the evaluation of the detected signals.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the light emitting means (24) include at least one laser, preferably a diode laser, emitting in the near infrared region of 700 to 1300 nm spectral range, preferably 750 to 950 nm.

22. Apparatus according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the light emitting means (24) are capable of emitting at three wavelengths, preferably at about 782 nm, 857 nm and 908 nm.