NeuroSense: A New Sensor Could Stop Brain Infections in Their Tracks
A research team led by the University of Waterloo has developed NeuroSense, a monitoring system designed for the continuous detection of infections in the brain fluid of intensive care patients.
How It Works
The device connects directly to drainage lines used to remove excess brain fluid in patients suffering from traumatic brain injury, hydrocephalus, or brain hemorrhage.
It detects biomarkers of infection—including glucose, lactate, and pH—as well as flow rate, all in real-time.
The system is 3D-printed, roughly the size of a smartphone. It features four sensors connected to an electrochemical analyzer and a display unit located at the patient's bedside.
The Medical Need
In the US, about 25,000 hospital patients require these drains annually. Up to 20% develop infections, doubling hospital stays and causing complications like meningitis, neural damage, disability, or death.
Currently, infection detection requires lab analysis of fluid samples, which is typically performed only once every one to two days.
Testing & Next Steps
In early trials, NeuroSense performed comparably to standard lab testing in a small number of ICU patients.
Researchers now plan to add an alarm for automatic alerts, conduct larger clinical studies, and refine components for potential commercialization.
The project involves researchers from University Medicine Rostock, MIT, and Harvard Medical School. A paper detailing the work was published in Science Translational Medicine.