Relationship between intracranial pressure and neurocognitive function among older adults after radical resection of rectal cancer

BACKGROUND Older patients are prone to postoperative cognitive decline after laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery,which may be associated with increased intraoperative intracranial pressure(ICP).This study investigated the correlation between intra-operative ICP changes,as indicated by measurements of the optic nerve sheath diameter(ONSD)using ultrasonography,and subsequent cognitive function to provide better patient care.AIM To evaluate changes in ICP and associated postoperative neurocognition in older adults after laparoscopic radical resection for rectal cancer.METHODS We included 140 patients who visited the Mianyang Central Hospital for malig-nant rectal tumors,measured their ONSDs before surgery and 30 and 60 minutes after the Trendelenburg position during surgery,and evaluated the patients’cog-nitive function 1 day before surgery and 1,4,and 7 days after surgery.The Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE)and confusion assessment method(CAM)scores of the patients with different ONSDs were compared at different times after surgery.RESULTS In patients with an ONSD greater than 5.00 mm(group A1),the MMSE scores at 1 day and 4 days after surgery were significantly lower than those of patients with an ONSD less than or equal to 4.00 mm(group A2)(P<0.05).The CAM scores of group A1 were significantly higher than those of group A2(P<0.05).The MMSE scores of group A1 on days 1 and 4 after surgery were significantly lower than those 1 day before and 7 days after surgery(P<0.05),while the CAM scores 1 day and 4 days after surgery were significantly higher than those 1 day before and 7 days after surgery.CONCLUSION Decline in cognitive function among older adults after the procedure may be related to intracranial hypertension during surgery.

Bedside ultrasonography of optic nerve sheath diameter for detection of raised intracranial pressure in nontraumatic neurocritically ill patients

BACKGROUND Delay in treatment of raised intracranial pressure(ICP)leads to poor clinical outcomes.Optic nerve sheath diameter(ONSD)by ultrasonography(US-ONSD)has shown good accuracy in traumatic brain injury and neurosurgical patients to diagnose raised ICP.However,there is a dearth of data in neuro-medical intensive care unit(ICU)where the spectrum of disease is different.AIM To validate the diagnostic accuracy of ONSD in non-traumatic neuro-critically ill patients.METHODS We prospectively enrolled 114 patients who had clinically suspected raised ICP due to non-traumatic causes admitted in neuro-medical ICU.US-ONSD was performed according to ALARA principles.A cut-off more than 5.7 mm was taken as significantly raised.Raised ONSD was corelated with raised ICP on radiological imaging.Clinical history,general and systemic examination findings,SOFA and APACHE 2 score and patient outcomes were recorded.RESULTS There was significant association between raised ONSD and raised ICP on imaging(P<0.001).The sensitivity,specificity,positive and negative predictive value at this cut-off was 77.55%,89.06%,84.44% and 83.82% respectively.The positive and negative likelihood ratio was 7.09 and 0.25.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves was 0.844.Using Youden’s index the best cut off value for ONSD was 5.75 mm.Raised ONSD was associated with lower age(P=0.007),poorer Glasgow Coma Scale(P=0.009)and greater need for surgical intervention(P=0.006)whereas no statistically significant association was found between raised ONSD and SOFA score,APACHE II score or ICU mortality.Our limitations were that it was a single centre study and we did not perform serial measurements or ONSD pre-and post-treatment or procedures for raised ICP.CONCLUSION ONSD can be used as a screening a test to detect raised ICP in a medical ICU and as a trigger to initiate further management of raised ICP.ONSD can be beneficial in ruling out a diagnosis in a low-prevalence population and rule in a diagnosis in a high-prevalence population.

Epidural Blood Patches Performed with Miethke Sensor Reservoir for Continuous Intracranial Pressure Monitoring

An epidural blood patch (EBP) is a procedure performed by injecting autologous blood into a patient’s epidural space, usually at the site of a suspected CSF leak. It is typically performed in patients with characteristic postural headaches due to low intracranial pressure. We report a case of a young female with an implanted Miethke Sensor Reservoir, which was used for continuous intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring during a two-level epidural blood patch. ICP increased only with thoracic injection, suggesting thoracic EBP may have greater efficacy than lumbar EBP in treating SIH and PDPH when the site of CSF leak is unknown.

Amendment on the strain measurement of thin-walled human skull shell as intracranial pressure changes

The human skull, composed of tabula extema, tabula intema, and a porous diploe sandwiched in between, is deformed with changing intracranial pressure （ICP）. Because the human skull＇s thickness is only 6 mm, it is simplified as a thin-walled shell. The objective of this article is to analyze the strain of the thin-wailed shell by the stress-strain calculation of a human skull with changing ICP. Under the same loading conditions, using finite element analysis （FEA）, the strains of the human skull were calculated and the results were compared with the measurements of the simulative experiment in vitro. It is demonstrated that the strain of the thin-walled shell is totally measured by pasting the one-way strain foils on the exterior surface of the shell with suitable amendment for data. The amendment scope of the measured strain values of the thin-walled shell is from 13.04% to 22.22%.

Outcomes of high-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients treated with coiling and ventricular intracranial pressure monitoring

BACKGROUND High-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is a devastating disease with a low favorable outcome.Elevated intracranial pressure is a substantial feature of high-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage that can result to secondary brain injury.Early control of intracranial pressure including decompressive craniectomy and external ventricular drainage had been reported to be associated with improved outcomes.But in recent years,little is known whether external ventricular drainage and intracranial pressure monitoring after coiling could improve outcomes in high-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.AIM To investigate the outcomes of high-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients with coiling and ventricular intracranial pressure monitoring.METHODS A retrospective analysis of a consecutive series of high-grade patients treated between Jan 2016 and Jun 2017 was performed.In our center,followed by continuous intracranial pressure monitoring,the use of ventricular pressure probe for endovascular coiling and invasive intracranial pressure monitoring in the acute phase is considered to be the first choice for the treatment of high-grade patients.We retrospectively analyzed patient characteristics,radiological features,intracranial pressure monitoring parameters,complications,mortality and outcome.RESULTS A total of 36 patients were included,and 32(88.89%)survived.The overall mortality rate was 11.11%.No patient suffered from aneurysm re-rupture.The intracranial pressure in 33 patients(91.67%)was maintained within the normal range by ventricular drainage during the treatment.A favorable outcome was achieved in 18 patients(50%)with 6 mo follow-up.Delayed cerebral ischemia and Glasgow coma scale were considered as significant predictors of outcome(2.066 and-0.296,respectively,P<0.05).CONCLUSION Ventricular intracranial pressure monitoring may effectively maintain the intracranial pressure within the normal range.Despite the small number of cases in the current work,high-grade patients may benefit from a combination therapy of early coiling and subsequent ventricular intracranial pressure monitoring.

Changes of Nitric Oxide and Its Relationship with Clinical Features,Intracranial Pressure and Outcome in Acute Head Injury

To investigate the content and dynamics of nitric oxide (NO) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with acute head injury and to clarify the relationship of NO with clinical features and intracranial pressure (ICP) as well as outcomes, 38 adults with acute head injury were studied. Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) obtained at admission and Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) 3 months after injury was assessed. ICP was surveyed via intraventricular catheter and lumbar puncture and CSF samples were obtained simultaneously. NO was determined with Griess reagents. Results showed that NO peak content in the head injury group was significantly higher than that of the control group. During dynamic research, no peak content of mildly injured cases and severely injured ones appeared in different time windows respectively. The peak value of NO was distinctly higher in the severe group than in the mild group. NO peak value of the raised ICP group was remarkably higher than that of the normal ICP group. The peak value of NO was considerately higher in the poor outcome group than in the good outcome group. When the content of NO was over 6. 5 μmol/L, the rate of poor outcome was increased. There existed a correlation between NO and GCS, ICP and GOS. It is concluded that the content of NO was increased in patients with acute head injury and the changes of NO had different time windows in severely injured patients and mildly injured ones. The more sever the injury, the higher the NO content; and the more serious the secondary brain injury and brain edema, the worse the outcomes. When NO is combined with GCS, GOS and ICP, it increases the accuracy of judgement to the degree of head injury and outcome.

Closed cranial window rodent model for investigating hemodynamic response to elevated intracranial pressure

Background:Elevated intracranial pressure(ICP)occurs in several physiological and pathological conditions,yet long-term sequellae are not common,which implies that blood flow is preserved above ischemic thresholds.Methods:This pilot study sought to confirm this hypothesis using a closed cranial window model in a rat in which ICP was elevated to 120 mmHg for 12 min,and superficial cortical perfusion was measured by laser Doppler flowmetry and laser speckle flowmetry.Results:Following a transient increase,cortical blood flow decreased to between 25%and 75%of baseline.These levels correspond to disrupted metabolism and decreased protein synthesis but did not exceed thresholds for electrical signaling or membrane integrity.This may partially explain how some episodes of elevated ICP remain benign.Conclusion:The closed cranial window model provides a platform for prospective study of physiologic responses to artificially elevated ICP during neurosurgery to promote hemostasis.

Research Progresses in Effects of Analgesics and Sedatives on Intracranial Pressure of Neurointensive Care Patients

At present, there are some concerns and problems to treat neurointensive care patients by using analgesics and sedatives. Conditions of neurointensive care patients change quickly. For neurointensive care patients who cannot have auxiliary examination timely, clinicians judge intracranial conditions mainly through relevant monitoring devices and consciousness and pupil changes of patients. The use of analgesics and sedatives is limited due to worry about influences on consciousness evaluation and judgment and different degrees of inhibition on cardiovascular system and respiratory system. Common sedatives (e.g. benzodiazepines) and common analgesics (e.g. morphine, fentanyl and sufentanil) both may inhibit respiration. The specification often provides taboos for the use of drugs by patients with increase intracranial pressure (ICP) and craniocerebral injuries. Through literature review, the author analyzed influences of analgesics and sedatives on ICP of neurointensive care patients comprehensively.

Clinical significance of large decompressive craniectomy to control intractable increased intracranial pressure in patients with traumatic brain injury

Objective To investigate the role of decompressive craniectomy (DC) to decrease intractable intracranial hypertension(ICH) due to diffuse brain swelling and / or cerebral edema after severe traumatic brain injury and the time window of DC to affect on prognosis. Methods The clinical record of 132 patients who underwent DC for posttraumatic intractable ICH in our hospital from July 2003 to

Effects of positive end-expiratory pressure on intracranial pressure,cerebral perfusion pressure,and brain oxygenation in acute brain injury:Friend or foe?A scoping review

Background Patients with acute brain injury(ABI)are a peculiar population because ABI does not only affect the brain but also other organs such as the lungs,as theorized in brain–lung crosstalk models.ABI patients often require mechanical ventilation(MV)to avoid the complications of impaired respiratory function that can follow ABI;MV should be settled with meticulousness owing to its effects on the intracranial compartment,especially regarding positive end-expiratory pressure(PEEP).This scoping review aimed to(1)describe the physiological basis and mechanisms related to the effects of PEEP in ABI;(2)examine how clinical research is conducted on this topic;(3)identify methods for setting PEEP in ABI;and(4)investigate the impact of the application of PEEP in ABI on the outcome.Methods The five-stage paradigm devised by Peters et al.and expanded by Arksey and O'Malley,Levac et al.,and the Joanna Briggs Institute was used for methodology.We also adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses(PRISMA)extension criteria.Inclusion criteria:we compiled all scientific data from peer-reviewed journals and studies that discussed the application of PEEP and its impact on intracranial pressure,cerebral perfusion pressure,and brain oxygenation in adult patients with ABI.Exclusion criteria:studies that only examined a pediatric patient group(those under the age of 18),experiments conducted solely on animals;studies without intracranial pressure and/or cerebral perfusion pressure determinations,and studies with incomplete information.Two authors searched and screened for inclusion in papers published up to July 2023 using the PubMed-indexed online database.Data were presented in narrative and tubular form.Results The initial search yielded 330 references on the application of PEEP in ABI,of which 36 met our inclusion criteria.PEEP has recognized beneficial effects on gas exchange,but it produces hemodynamic changes that should be predicted to avoid undesired consequences on cerebral blood flow and intracranial pressure.Moreover,the elastic properties of the lungs influence the transmission of the forces applied by MV over the brain so they should be taken into consideration.Currently,there are no specific tools that can predict the effect of PEEP on the brain,but there is an established need for a comprehensive monitoring approach for these patients,acknowledging the etiology of ABI and the measurable variables to personalize MV.Conclusion PEEP can be safely used in patients with ABI to improve gas exchange keeping in mind its potentially harmful effects,which can be predicted with adequate monitoring supported by bedside non-invasive neuromonitoring tools.

Intracranial pressure is elevated at 24h post-stroke inmice

Background:It has long been assumed that post-stroke intracranial pressure(ICP)elevation occurs because of large infarct and edema volumes.However,we have repeatedly shown IcP elevation at 24 h post-stroke in the presence of little to no edema in rats.Biological processes are often conserved across species and types of injury.Therefore,we aimed to determine if an ICP rise occurs at 24 h post-stroke in the presence of small infarct and edema volumes in mice.Methods:Mice were randomized by random number table to either photothrombotic stroke or sham surgery(n=15).Epidural ICP was recorded using a fiber optic catheter at 1 h post-stroke(baseline)and between 23 and 24hpost-stroke.Results:ICP was significantly higher at 24 h compared to baseline in stroke animals(n=6;10.71±6.45mmHg vs.3.74±2.20mmHg,respec-tively;p=0.03).ICP at 24 h was also significantly higher in stroke mice compared to sham(n=6;3.45±1.43mmHg;p=0.02).There was no change in ICP in sham mice(p=0.9).Edema volumes in stroke animals were small(0.04±0.04 mm3)and unlikely to have caused significant ICP elevation.Conclusion:This study provides evidence of an edema-independent ICP elevation following small ischemic stroke in mice.The occurrence of this rise supports our findings in other species and suggests it is caused by a previously undescribed mechanism.

Intracranial pressure monitoring for special patterns of frontal lobe contusions

Objective： To study the effect and indications ofintracranial pressure （ICP） monitoring for frontal lobe contusion patients. Methods： During January 2005-December 2008, 34 cases of frontal lobe contusion received ICP monitoring in our department （monitoring group）. Different treatment protocols were adopted according to the results of ICP. Mean-while 46 cases of same type of head-injured patients who did not undergo ICP monitoring served as control group. Results： We found that ICP elevated dramatically within 24 hours after head injury if the contusions were located in frontal longitudinal dehiscence, bilateral undersurface of frontal lobe or dispersed in bilateral lobe. After half a year follow-up and on the basis of Glasgow Coma Scale assessment, the monitoring group showed better outcome than the control group with good recovery in 24 cases （70.6%）, moderate disability in 7 cases （20.6%）, severe disability in 2 （5.88%） and death in 1 （2.94%）. The outcome of control group displayed good condition in 25 cases （54.3%）, moderate disabilities in 8 （17.4%）, severe disability in 7 （15.2%）, and death in 6 （13.0%）. Conclusions： Frontal lobe contusions are vulnerable and complex head injuries, especially when the contusions are located in frontal longitudinal dehiscence, bilateral undersurface of frontal lobe or diffused in bilateral lobes. These patients should undergo ICP monitoring regardless of their consciousness status. IflCP elevates over 25 mm Hg, the craniotomy is mandatory and will markedly reduce the mortality and disability of these patients.

RELATIONS OF INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE, CREATINE KINASE AND BRAINSTEM AUDITORY EVOKED POTENTIAL IN PATIENTS WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN EDEMA

We studied the relations of intracranial pressure (ICP),creatine kinase (CK) and bralnstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) in 44 patients with traumatic brain edema who were admitted to our hospital from June 1990 to February 1991. There were 30 males and 14 females, with age range from 9 to 67 years. The results showed that the abnormal BAEP could reflect the severity of cerebral edema in acute head injury and was related to ICP and serum CK levels. When ICP>30 mmHg (4kPa), the abnormality of BAEP was more obvious than that of the control group (P<0.05); the serum CK levels were also elevated markedly. In patients with ICP over and below 4kPa, the rate of abnormal BAEP was 38.46% and 77.78% respectively (P<0.05). The serum CK level in the normal group or in the group with moderate abnormality of BAEP was significantly different from that in the group with severe abnormality or lack of BAEP (274.8± 98.24 U/L vs 705.3± 364.27 U/L; P<0.001). After treatment, the ICP returned to normal, and the BAEP norm

Management of patients with severe traumatic brain injury guided by intraventricular intracranial pressure monitoring： a report of 136 cases

Objective： To evaluate the effect of the treatment modality guided by intraventricular intracranial pressure （ICP） monitoring on patients with severe traumatic brain injury （TBI）. Methods： The clinical data of a group of 136 severely brain-injured patients admitted to Shanghai Neurosurgical Emergency Center from December 2004 to February 2006 were studied. Results： The intraventricular ICP monitor was placed in all the 136 patients via Kocher＇s pathway, Paine＇s pathway or intraoperative opened ventricle. In this series, the probe was placed during the procedure of craniotomy in 98 patients; for other 38 patients, the probe was placed initially to measure or to monitor ICE A stepwise protocol targeting at ICP control （420 mm Hg） and optimal cerebral perfusion pressure （CPP） maintenance （60-90 mm Hg） was deployed.Among them, 76 patients survived with good recovery, 14 with moderate disability, 24 with severe disability, 10 with vegetative state, and 12 died. Complications associated with intraventricular ICP monitoring included hemorrhage and infection. Hemorrhage occurred in 1 patient and infection in 5 patients. There were no unacceptable complications related to ICP monitoring. Conclusions： Ventricular access for 1CP monitoring can be safely and accurately achieved. ICP monitoring via ventriculostomy may facilitate an early and accurate intervention for severely brain-injured patients. The intraventricular ICP monitoring is a low-risk procedure and can yield great benefits for management of patients with severe TBI.

Effect of Tianhuang Granule(田黄冲剂) on Intracranial Pressure and Serum Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 in Patients with Acute Cerebral Hemorrhage

Objective： To study the effect and mechanism of Tianhuang Granule （田黄冲剂, THG） on hydrocephalus in the patients with acute cerebral hemorrhage （ACH） through intracranial pressure （ICP） monitoring, serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 （MMP-9） level observation, and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale （NIHSS） scoring （for nerve function deficit）. Methods： Sixty patients with ACH were equally randomized into two groups by lottery, the control group and the THG group; all were treated with conventional therapy, but to the patients in the THG group, THG was given orally in addition for 28 days. Changes of ICP, MMP-9 expression, and NIHSS scores, as well as the degree of cerebral hematoma and hydrocephalus （by cranial CT scanning） in the patients, were estimated and compared. Results： （1） ICP was lowered more significantly in the THG group, showing a significant difference between groups on day 7 （P〈0.05）. （2） MMP-9 expression was down-regulated in the THG group more significantly and earlier than that in the control group. （3） The degrees of cerebral hematoma and hydrocephalus in the THG group on day 7 were reduced significantly as compared with those on day 3 （P〈0.05）, but in the control group, the day of significant reduction was delayed to day 14, and the degrees on day 7 and day 14 in the two groups were significantly different （P〈0.05 and P〈0.01）. （4） NIHSS score was significantly lower in the THG group than that in the control group on day 14 and day 28 （P〈0.05 and P〈0.01）. Conclusion： THG can effectively lower ICP, down-regulate MMP-9 expression, promote the absorption of cerebral hematoma and hydrocephalus, and improve the nerve function, showing a clinical effectiveness than conventional therapy.

Correlation of cell apoptosis with brain edema and elevated intracranial pressure in traumatic brain injury

Objective: To study the correlation between brain edema, elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) and cell apoptosis in traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: In this study, totally 42 rabbits in 7 groups were studied. Six of the animals were identified as a control group, and the remaining 36 animals were equally divided into 6 TBI groups. TBI models were produced by the modified method of Feeney. After the impact, ICP of each subject was recorded continuously by an ICP monitor until the animal was sacrificed at scheduled time. The apoptotic brain cells were detected by an terminal deoxynucleotide-transferase-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Cerebral water content (CWC) was measured with a drying method and calculated according to the Elliott formula. Then, an analysis was conducted to determine the correlation between the count of apoptotic cells and the clinical pathological changes of the brain. Results: Apoptotic cell count began to increase 2 h after the impact, and reached its maximum about 3 days after the impact. The peak value of CWC and ICP appeared 1 day and 3 days after the impact, respectively. Apoptotic cell count had a positive correlation with CWC and ICP. Conclusions: In TBI, occurrence of brain edema and ICP increase might lead to apoptosis of brain cells. Any therapy which can relieve brain edema and/or decrease ICP would be able to reduce neuron apoptosis, thereby to attenuate the secondary brain damage.

Effects of mild hypothermia on patients with lower intracranial pressure following severe brain injury

Objective: To study the effects of mild hypothermia therapy on severe brain-injured patients whose intracranial pressure (ICP) could be maintained below 25 mm Hg.Methods: Forty severe brain-injured patients with ICP below 25 mm Hg were divided randomly into one treatment group (n=20, mild hypothermia therapy) and one control group (n=20, normothermia therapy) to observe the changes of the concentration of excitatory amino acids (glutamate and glycine) and cytokines (interleukin-1β and interleukin-6). Results: There were no significant differences in the daily changes of the concentration of excitatory amino acid and cytokines between two groups. The outcome of two groups had no significant differences. Conclusions: Mild hypothermia has no additional beneficial effects on severe brain-injured patients compared with normothermia therapy if ICP can be maintained below 25 mm Hg by using conventional therapy.

Effect of hyperventilation on brain tissue oxygen pressure, carbon dioxide pressure, pH value and intracranial pressure during intracranial hypertension in pigs

To study the effect of hyperventilation on brain tissue oxygen pressure (P ti O 2) , brain tissue carbon dioxide pressure (P ti CO 2) , pH value and intracranial pressure (ICP) during intracranial hypertension in pigs. Methods: Autologous arterial blood ( 5.5 ml± 0.5 ml) was injected into the left frontal lobe by micropump to establish the model of intracerebral hematoma in pigs. After blood injection, the animals were hyperventilated for 15 minutes to decrease the pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood ( P aCO 2 ) to 27.35 mm*!Hg ± 11.97 mm*!Hg (1 mm*!Hg= 0.133 kPa). The mean arterial pressure (MAP), intracranial pressure (ICP), cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), P ti O 2 , P ti CO 2 , pH value and [HCO 3 -] were continuously monitored and the blood gas was analyzed. Results: After hyperventilation, the ICP significantly decreased (P< 0.01 ), the CPP significantly increased (P< 0.05 ), while the P ti O 2 greatly decreased to the ischemic level ( 8.20 mm*!Hg± 2.50 mm*!Hg) (P< 0.01 ), the P ti CO 2 decreased (P< 0.01 ) and the pH value increased (P< 0.01 ). At the same time, blood gas analysis showed that the P aCO 2 greatly decreased and the pH value increased. Conclusions: Hyperventilation can decrease the ICP and the P ti O 2 significantly. Therefore, hyperventilation should be avoided early after brain injury. The P ti O 2 monitoring will be helpful for detecting cerebral ischemia early.

Tiny MEMS-Based Pressure Sensors in the Measurement of Intracranial Pressure

This study presents a tiny pressure sensor which is used to measure the Intracranial Pressure （ICP）. The sensor is based on the piezoresistive effect. The piezoresistive pressure sensor is simulated and designed by using nonlinear programming optimizing and Finite Element Analysis （FEA） tools. Two kinds of sensor sizes are designed in the case of childhood and adult. The sensors are fabricated by Microelectro Mechanical Systems （MEMS） process. The test results yield sensitivities of 1.033x 10-2 mV/kPa for the childhood type detection and 1.257x 10-2 mV/kPa for the adult detection with sensor chip sizes of 0.40x0.40 mm2 and 0.50x0.50 mm2, respectively. A novel method for measuring ICP is proposed because of the tiny sizes. Furthermore, relative errors for sensitivity of pressure sensors are limited within 4.76%. Minimum Detectable Pressure （MDP） reaches 128.4 Pa in average.

Micro packaged MEMS pressure sensor for intracranial pressure measurement

This paper presents a micro packaged MEMS pressure sensor for intracranial pressure measurement which belongs to BioMEMS. It can be used in lumbar puncture surgery to measure intracranial pressure. Minia- turization is key for lumbar puncture surgery because the sensor must be small enough to allow it be placed in the reagent chamber of the lumbar puncture needle. The size of the sensor is decided by the size of the sensor chip and package. Our sensor chip is based on silicon piezoresistive effect and the size is 400 × 400 μm2. It is much smaller than the reported polymer intracranial pressure sensors such as liquid crystal polymer sensors. In terms of package, the traditional dual in-line package obviously could not match the size need, the minimal size of recently reported MEMS-based intracranial pressure sensors after packaging is 10 × 10 mm2. In this work, we are the first to introduce a quad flat no-lead package as the package form of piezoresistive intracranial pressure sensors, the whole size of the sensor is minimized to only 3 × 3 mm2. Considering the liquid measurement environment, the sensor is gummed and waterproof performance is tested; the sensitivity of the sensor is 0.9 × 10-2 mV/kPa.