Wireless wearable CSF flow sensor to monitor hydrocephalus in patients
Official title: Development of wireless, wearable flow sensors for continuous, long-term tracking of cerebrospinal fluid dynamics in patients with hydrocephalus
Funded at Rhaeos, INC. · NIH-11391382 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A wearable, wireless sensor helps track cerebrospinal fluid flow in people with hydrocephalus to support safer, more informed care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rhaeos, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Evanston, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $419,724 |
| NIH project number | 5UH3NS130338-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11391382 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults or children with hydrocephalus who have or need ventricular shunts and can wear a monitoring device for extended periods.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without shunt dependence or those unable to tolerate wearable monitoring may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to continuously monitor CSF dynamics in hydrocephalus patients using a miniaturized wearable flow sensor. It builds on a first platform that maps subdermal fluid flow with thermal sensing to provide rapid shunt checks, now extending to 24-hour continuous monitoring including sleep periods. The approach could enable better outpatient monitoring and enhanced inpatient management of shunt function, potentially reducing complications. The study envisions validating the sensor’s ability to reflect real CSF flow and informing clinical decisions in collaboration with clinicians. Participation would involve patients with hydrocephalus who require shunt management and can contribute data from wearable monitoring.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from safer, more proactive management of their shunts and potentially fewer emergency visits or complications.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work demonstrated feasibility of wearable CSF flow monitoring; this project extends to continuous 24-hour monitoring and clinical integration.
Where this research is happening
-
Rhaeos, INC.
Evanston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Webb, Richard Chad — Rhaeos, INC.
- Study coordinator: Webb, Richard Chad
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Targeting the brain’s fluid system to treat post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus
This grant explores a new approach to treating post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus by studying how the brain’s fluid system and immune cells manage CSF after a brain bleed.
-
Endoscopic versus Shunt Treatment of Hydrocephalus in Infants
A study compares two treatments for hydrocephalus in infants to see which keeps babies cognitively on par with the standard shunt treatment.
-
Endoscopic treatment versus shunt for hydrocephalus in infants
This project tests whether a shunt-free endoscopic procedure can be as good as traditional shunting for babies with hydrocephalus.
-
Endoscopic treatment vs shunt for infant hydrocephalus
Infants with hydrocephalus may be treated with a shunt or a shunt-free procedure called ETV+CPC, and this study compares the two to see if the shunt-free option can keep cognitive outcomes similar.
-
Functional screen of hydrocephalus and heart-disease genes in a frog model
A study uses frog embryos to test how human genetic changes might cause congenital hydrocephalus and related heart defects, with the goal of understanding why these conditions occur.
-
Modulating choroid plexus function to restore CSF balance in hydrocephalus
A new NIH grant aims to adjust the choroid plexus, the brain’s CSF factory, to restore normal CSF flow and reduce hydrocephalus-related problems.
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.