Digital processing of intracranial pressure signal acquired by means of a strain gauge sensor

Abstract

The aim of this work is to exploit an automatic system to make it easier, more quickly and costless the evaluation of Intracranial pressure (ICP) signal in cerebral pathology affected patients. The authors have developed a tool able to filter, analyze and extract features from ICP signal or recording. For the conducted study we have used the ICP MicroSensor, a catheter with a micro miniature silicon strain gauge type sensor mounted at one end and an electrical connector at the other end. We studied 16 continuous pressure recordings of different patients who underwent an infusion test. The digital signal processing (DSP) performed consists in: signal filtering, peaks identification, location of single pressure waves and extraction of features from each single wave. The outflow of the elaboration is composed by the 14 parameters trends which allows an easy analysis of intracranial pressure. It can be intended as a valid, consistent, reliable and easy-computing tool that might be used by the medical team in all those cases that involve brain damages or diseases. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.