BRAINSAFE · Development of a new, non invasive absolute Intracranial Pressure (aICP) measurement device based on ultrasound and Doppler technologies

Only invasive technologies only for diagnostics of Intracranial Pressure (ICP) for patients with severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) are available today. The procedure requires neurosurgeon to place the catheter inside the patient´s skull that exposes the patients to the risk of infection (5%), bleeding, leak of fluids or loss of other body tissue, pain, hyperthermia as well as risks related to anaesthetics. Relative to these risks and complexity of the procedure, only 20% of all TBI patients get access to the diagnostics of ICP, leaving out 1,280,000 TBI patients without proper examination of their brain injuries in Europe yearly. The lack of early diagnosis of increased ICP causes 100,000 new long-term disabilities and 400,000 deaths each year for these patients. Early diagnosis of mild and moderate TBI also requires non-invasive ICP measurement.The BrainSafe project offers an innovative technology for non-invasive and fast-and-easy absolute intracranial pressure (aICP) diagnostics that can save 9,400 lives and increase the chance of survival and life span for additional 136,000 patients with TBI yearly. The innovative aICP measurement device will completely eliminate all the risks associated with invasive methods of ICP diagnostics.Overall project objectives are:1. To develop a technology, based on Ultrasonic Transcranial Doppler system, for non-invasive aICP meter with a measurement accuracy of +/-2 mmHg2. To develop the technological requirements for a hand held aICP meter for easy access and simple use, without acquiring intensive training of health care personnelThe BrainSafe project is initiated by the SME Vittamed who has background knowledge and holds all IPR of the proposed technological concept. It is carried out by a consortium of field experts within ultrasonic techniques, signal processing and ergonomic hardware design to ensure full comfort to the patients and medical personnel.