Improving access to cerebrospinal fluid monitoring for children with hydrocephalus in Puerto Rico
Official title: Lowering Economic, Infrastructure, & Physical Barriers with Noninvasive, Wireless Telemedicine Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow Sensing for Pediatric Hydrocephalus Patients in Puerto Rico
Funded at Rhaeos, INC. · NIH-11067232 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new, easy-to-use device called FlowSense that helps kids with hydrocephalus check their cerebrospinal fluid flow at home, making it simpler and less stressful for families to manage their care without constant trips to the hospital.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rhaeos, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Evanston, United States) |
| Project start | April 12, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $298,772 |
| NIH project number | 1R43MD020017-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11067232 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children under 11 years old diagnosed with hydrocephalus who live in Puerto Rico.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have hydrocephalus or those living outside of Puerto Rico may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a noninvasive, wireless device called FlowSense that can monitor cerebrospinal fluid flow in pediatric patients with hydrocephalus from the comfort of their homes. By utilizing smartphone technology, the device aims to reduce the need for frequent hospital visits and expensive diagnostic procedures, which are particularly challenging for families living far from specialized care in Puerto Rico. The project addresses significant barriers to care, including economic and infrastructural challenges, by providing an affordable and accessible solution for monitoring this serious condition.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the quality of life for pediatric hydrocephalus patients by providing timely and accurate monitoring of their condition without the need for invasive procedures.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been advancements in telemedicine and remote monitoring, this specific approach using a wearable device for cerebrospinal fluid flow sensing in pediatric patients is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Rhaeos, INC.
Evanston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Somera, Anna Lisa — Rhaeos, INC.
- Study coordinator: Somera, Anna Lisa
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.