Non-Invasive Intracranial Pressure Monitoring in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability, especially in individuals under 40. A key aspect of managing severe TBI involves monitoring intracranial pressure (ICP), which is the pressure within the skull. High ICP can lead to further brain damage, resulting in increased disability or even death. Currently, ICP measurement involves placing a sensor into the brain tissue, a procedure that carries risks of infection and bleeding, and can only be performed by a neurosurgeon. This study aims to develop a non-invasive method to measure ICP, reducing risks, permitting monitoring outside the hospital, and potentially expanding its use to other conditions like stroke or brain tumors. The proposed non-invasive ICP monitor works by shining a harmless light into the brain through the skull. A sensor attached to the forehead records optical signals known as photoplethysmography (PPG), which are related to changes in ICP. This pilot study aims to create the first clinical database of these signals in intensive care patients. The collected data will help generate advanced algorithms and machine learning models to translate optical signals into absolute ICP measurements. The study's primary outcome is to evaluate the agreement between the non-invasive ICP measurements and traditional invasive methods.