Non‑invasive bedside monitor for brain blood flow and pressure
SNSPD-DCS at 1064 nm for non-invasive monitoring of cerebral perfusion and intracranial pressure in the ICU
A new bedside optical device aims to measure brain blood flow, intracranial pressure, and the pressure where blood flow stops in adults with acquired brain injury in the ICU.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11171574 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you take part, a small sensor will be placed on your head that uses safe near‑infrared light to track blood movement in the brain without any surgery. The device uses advanced light detectors and diffuse correlation spectroscopy to estimate cerebral blood flow, intracranial pressure (ICP), and critical closing pressure (CrCP) from the pulse of blood. Measurements are taken at the bedside in the ICU alongside standard care so clinicians can compare non‑invasive readings with usual monitoring. The goal is to see whether this optical approach can provide continuous, safer information about brain perfusion for adults with severe brain injury.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) in the ICU with acute acquired brain injury who currently need or are at risk of intracranial pressure or cerebral perfusion monitoring would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People under 21, those without brain injury, or patients with scalp wounds or conditions that prevent placing the optical sensor are unlikely to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let clinicians monitor brain blood flow and pressure without invasive skull probes, reducing the risk of bleeding and infection and enabling earlier, targeted care.
How similar studies have performed: Smaller proof‑of‑concept studies using diffuse correlation spectroscopy have shown promise for tracking cerebral blood flow and estimating ICP, but using superconducting single‑photon detectors at 1064 nm for ICU monitoring is a newer and less‑tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Franceschini, Maria Angela — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Franceschini, Maria Angela
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 below.