Intracranial pressure monitoring device and method for use in MR-guided drug delivery

• US 6,537,232 B1
• Filed: 04/03/2000
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Regents of The University of Minnesota (University of Minnesota)
• Original Assignee: Regents of The University of Minnesota (University of Minnesota)
• Inventors: Kucharczyk, John, Truwit, Charles L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): QADERI, RUNA S
• Application Number:
  US09/541,288
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 600/411, 600/420, 600/423, 600/561, 600/433, 604/48, 604/65, 604/66, 604/503, 604/505, 604/506, 604/507, 604/508, 604/510
• US Class Current: 600/561
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/365 augmented reality, i.e. correlating a live optical image with another image
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3958 emitting a signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/031 Intracranial pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/11 with guides for needles or instruments, e.g. arcuate slides or ball joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0057 Catheters delivering medicament other than through a conventional lumen, e.g. porous walls or hydrogel coatings
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0073 Tip designed for influencing the flow or the flow velocity of the fluid, e.g. inserts for twisted or vortex flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0693 Brain, cerebrum
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/005 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/5601 involving use of a contrast agent for contrast manipulation, e.g. a paramagnetic, super-paramagnetic, ferromagnetic or hyperpolarised contrast agent
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/563 of moving material, e.g. flow contrast angiography

Abstract

A device and method for monitoring intracranial pressure during magnetic resonance (MR) image-guided neurosurgical procedures, such as intracranial drug delivery procedures, wherein an MR-compatible microsensor pressure transducer coupled to a pressure sensing diaphragm located a) at the tip, b) on a lateral side, and/or c) in multiple locations of an MR-compatible catheter is inserted into a lateral cerebral ventricle, cerebral cistern, subarachnoid space, subdural or extradural spaces, venous sinuses, or intraparenchymal tissue locations under MR imaging guidance, and is used to record intracranial pressures over hours to days in patients undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic neurologic interventions.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the determination or monitoring of intracranial pressure comprising

an interventional device that is insertable into a tissue or vasculature of the brain,

said interventional device comprising at least two pressure sensing elements located on lateral surfaces of said interventional device, a signal transmitting connector connecting said at least two pressure sensing elements and a signal reader, the signal reader being able to read signals from said at least two pressure sensing elements to indicate hydrostatic pressure or changes in hydrostatic pressure, wherein one of said at least two pressure sensing elements is located closer towards a tip of the interventional device than at least one other another of said at least two pressure sensing elements, and wherein there is at least one drug delivery lumen located between two pressure sensing elements of said at least two pressure sensing elements.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least two pressure sensing elements comprise a solid state pressure sensing element.

3. A method for sensing the intracranial pressure within a patient comprising inserting the interventional device of the apparatus of claim 1 into the brain of a patient, visualizing the tissue around the apparatus and the apparatus itself by magnetic resonance imaging, and positioning the apparatus within the device under magnetic resonance imaging, and reading signals from said pressure sensing element to indicate hydrostatic pressure or changes in hydrostatic pressure within the brain.