Non invasive ICP monitoring
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A non-invasive intracranial pressure (nICP) monitoring system
IRAS ID
219476
Contact name
Christopher E G Uff
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
City University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Patients with a severe head injury are usually monitored on intensive care with a pressure monitor inserted into the brain. This involves drilling a small hole in the skull and inserting the monitor into the brain. This is an invasive intracranial pressure (ICP) monitor. This is standard practice.\nWe have developed a system that can monitor pressure without drilling a hole in the skull or inserting anything into the brain. This is a non-invasive intracranial pressure (ICP) monitor.\nIt involves placing a transducer on the forehead which shines a light through the skull into the brain. The way in which this light is reflected is related to the pressure within the brain.\nIt is currently an experimental system and we will first test it on healthy volunteers.\nIt will then be tested in patients who have an invasive ICP monitor inserted as part of their medical treatment. Most of these patients have suffered a severe head injury.\nIn healthy volunteers we do not know what the true pressure in the head is and we will assume that it is normal because they will be awake and talking to us.\nIn patients who are being treated on intensive care for head injury, we will insert an invasive pressure monitor as part of normal medical care. We will then use the non-invasive monitor in addition to the invasive monitor to ensure that it works and that the results are comparable to the invasive monitor.\nEventually we hope that the non-invasive monitor will replace the invasive monitor which will benefit patients.\nInvasive ICP monitors may have side effects including bleeding and infection in the brain. The non-invasive ICP monitor has no side effects. It is completely safe to shine light into the brain and several systems already use this for other purposes.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/EE/0276
Date of REC Opinion
14 Feb 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion