%0 Journal Article
%T The baseline pressure of intracranial pressure (ICP) sensors can be altered by electrostatic discharges
%A Per K Eide
%A Andr¨¦ Bakken
%J BioMedical Engineering OnLine
%D 2011
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1475-925x-10-75
%X We performed bench-testing of a set of commercial ICP sensors. In our experimental setup, the ICP sensor was placed in a container with 0.9% NaCl solution. A test person was charged 0.5 - 10 kV, and then delivered ESD's to the sensor by touching a metal rod that was located in the container. The continuous pressure signals were recorded continuously before/after the ESD's, and the pressure readings were stored digitally using a computerized systemA total of 57 sensors were tested, including 25 Codman ICP sensors and 32 Raumedic sensors. When charging the test person in the range 0.5-10 kV, typically ESD's in the range 0.5 - 5 kV peak pulse were delivered to the ICP sensor. Alterations in baseline pressure ¡Ý 2 mmHg was seen in 24 of 25 (96%) Codman sensors and in 17 of 32 (53%) Raumedic sensors. Lasting changes in baseline pressure > 10 mmHg that in the clinical setting would affect patient management, were seen frequently for both sensor types. The changes in baseline pressure were either characterized by sudden shifts or gradual drifts in baseline pressure.The baseline pressures of commercial solid ICP sensors can be altered by ESD's at discharge magnitudes that are clinically relevant. Shifts in baseline pressure change the ICP levels visualised to the physician on the monitor screen, and thereby reveal wrong ICP values, which likely represent a severe risk to the patient.In patients with brain injury due to traumatic brain injury, stroke, or complications to neurosurgery, the continuous monitoring of intracranial pressure (ICP) is crucial for surveillance [1-3], even though no randomized trials have confirmed the benefit of ICP monitoring in patients with brain injury [4].Modern ICP monitoring was first introduced by Janny in 1950 [5] and Lundberg in 1960 [6]. While ICP initially was mostly measured from fluid-filled catheters in connection with the ventricular cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the first ICP micro transducers were introduced in the 1980's [7,8]. The ICP
%U http://www.biomedical-engineering-online.com/content/10/1/75