Method and apparatus for monitoring cerebral physiology

• US 7,317,937 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2005
• Issued: 01/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Curators of the University of Missouri (University of Missouri)
• Original Assignee: Curators of the University of Missouri (University of Missouri)
• Inventors: Huckfeldt, Roger Eugene, Phillips, Jeffrey Owen
• Primary Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US11/313,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20060155177A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 600/309, 600/310, 600/300, 600/361, 600/378, 604/19, 604/20, 604/21, 604/27, 604/28
• US Class Current: 600/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14553 specially adapted for cerebral tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4064 Evaluating the brain A61B5/031, A61B5/369, A61B5/14553 take precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus for predicting the outcome of head injury trauma by monitoring cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) characteristics, preferably by monitoring the pH of CSF. The apparatus includes a catheter with a wall section adapted to permit CSF to flow therein, and a sensor located within the catheter such that the CSF is permitted to flow adjacent the tip of the sensor.

Claims

1. Apparatus for predicting the outcome of head trauma, the apparatus comprising:

a pH probe for reception in a patient'"'"'s brain ventricle;

means for monitoring the pH of CSF over time;

means for calculating the pH at the probe at sequential times;

means for comparing the calculated pH values with stored values, wherein each stored value is correlated with an outcome of head trauma; and

means for displaying and/or recording the comparison results.

2. A method of diagnosing or treating neurological injuries using the apparatus of claim 1, the method comprising:

inserting the pH probe into a patient'"'"'s brain ventricle;

monitoring the pH of CSF over time;

calculating the pH at the probe at sequential times;

comparing the calculated pH values with the stored values; and

displaying and/or recording the comparison results.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the stored values correspond with a rate of chance of CSF pH.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the stored values further correspond with absolute level of CSF pH.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stored values correlate with outcomes within the initial 48 hours following blunt head trauma.