The Problem

A Babak et al (2013). Intracranial pressure (ICP) level estimation using ...

Elevated Intra Cranial Pressure (ICP)

Elevated ICP can result from trauma, hemorrhage, and many other intracranial pathologies.

Traumatic Brain Injury

The most frequent reason for acutely elevated ICP is Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). The damage from an impact can grow worse over time as swelling in the brain increases pressure. This can give rise to secondary ischeamic brain damage due to decreased oxygen and nutrient delivery via the blood, which has to overcome the increased pressure gradient.

A Lasting Impact

While Service members have an increased lifetime risk of suffering head-injury which is a frequent cause of retirement, head-injury is also a significant problem among the civilian population. Combined, it is estimated that 2% of the American population live with some degree of physical or mental impairment following head- injury. Reduction in time-to-treat by bringing the treatment to the patient, may increase survival and reduce secondary brain injury.

The Solution

The NeuroNordic Device (TM)

Designed to be mobile, lightweight, non-invasive, collapsible, and MRI-compatible, the device has the potential to immediately reduce the ICP.

The NeuroNordic Device can be applied to both awake and comatose patients and will be available in several iterations to enable use in a variety of settings from intensive care units to in-field application.

Simple, but effective

The NeuroNordic Device (TM)

The principle behind the device is that creating a low pressure around the legs will shift blood to that area, thereby relieving congestion in the head, and improving the ability of blood to flow through the brain and deliver oxygen and nutrients. This will reduce development of secondary brain damage.

Development

The NeuroNordic Device (TM)

Development

We have worked our way through several working prototypes and are continuing development to improve the device.

As new areas of application and new patient groups who would benefit from this device continue to grow, so does our commitment make sure we have a device that will encompass a multitude of diverse environments.

The Evidence

Proof of Concept

Lower Body Negative Pressure (LBNP) successfully reduces the pressure in brain, while maintaining or improving the ability of blood to move through the brain (perfusion pressure).

Invasive Measurements to Demonstrate a Non-Invasive Device

The patients had intracranial monitors to show the pressure in the brain (ICP) in real time. An elevated ICP was provoked with head down tilt at a 15 degree angle (HDT).

"Ahh, that felt better"

The effect of LBNP was immediate, reducing the ICP and relieving the headache provoked by the HDT.

The Aim

A Beneficial Impact

We aim to fill a vital treatment gap by providing non-invasive treatment and management-capacity of patients with elevated ICP with the aim of increase survival and reduce secondary brain injury.

Treatment is envisioned to have use both for combat-training and battlefield related direct head-trauma or blast related injury. The treatment can be directly transferred to civilians for sports or accident related head-trauma as well as stroke.

Combined, this novel device and method hold potential to overturn current treatment regime to increase survival and reduce secondary brain injury.