A portable multi-sensor module for monitoring external ventricular drains

External ventricular drains (EVDs) are used clinically to relieve excess fluid pressure in the brain. However, EVD outflow rate is highly variable and typical clinical flow tracking methods are manual and low resolution. To address this problem, we present an integrated multi-sensor module (IMSM) co...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biomedical microdevices 2021-12, Vol.23 (4), p.45-45, Article 45
Main Authors: Hudson, Trevor Q., Baldwin, Alex, Samiei, Aria, Lee, Priya, McComb, J. Gordon, Meng, Ellis
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ambient temperature
Biocompatibility
Biological and Medical Physics
Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering
Biomimetics
Biophysics
Bovine serum albumin
Cerebrospinal fluid
Circuits
Data collection
Drainage - instrumentation
Drains
Electrodes
Engineering
Engineering Fluid Dynamics
Error reduction
External pressure
Flow velocity
Fluid flow
Fluid pressure
Heart Ventricles
Humans
Integrity
Modules
Monitoring, Physiologic
Nanotechnology
Polymer films
Polymers
Sensors
Serum albumin
Substrates
Surgical drains
Thin films
Ventricle
Wound drainage
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Summary:External ventricular drains (EVDs) are used clinically to relieve excess fluid pressure in the brain. However, EVD outflow rate is highly variable and typical clinical flow tracking methods are manual and low resolution. To address this problem, we present an integrated multi-sensor module (IMSM) containing flow, temperature, and electrode/substrate integrity sensors to monitor the flow dynamics of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage through an EVD. The impedimetric sensors were microfabricated out of biocompatible polymer thin films, enabling seamless integration with the fluid drainage path due to their low profile. A custom measurement circuit enabled automated and portable sensor operation and data collection in the clinic. System performance was verified using real human CSF in a benchtop EVD model. Impedimetric flow sensors tracked flow rate through ambient temperature variation and biomimetic pulsatile flow, reducing error compared with previous work by a factor of 6.6. Detection of sensor breakdown using novel substrate and electrode integrity sensors was verified through soak testing and immersion in bovine serum albumin (BSA). Finally, the IMSM and measurement circuit were tested for 53 days with an RMS error of 61.4 μL/min.
ISSN:1387-2176
1572-8781
DOI:10.1007/s10544-021-00579-8