Earbuds Monitor Cranial Pressure Non-Invasively
Jul-11-13
Researchers at HeadSense have developed a set of earbuds that could provide a non-invasive method of monitoring pressure inside the skull.Usually, intercranial pressure is measured by drilling a hole in the skill and inserting a catheter—a process that is both expensive and somewhat risky, and therefore used only in serious cases. The earbuds from HeadSense, in contrast, could be used in cases that do not require such extreme procedures, but could still benefit from pressure monitoring.
The earbuds monitor the pressure in the skull by emitting different frequencies and measuring the changes in the sound waves as they pass through the brain. As the blood flow in the brain varies, so do the tones, with a narrowing of the blood vessels causing the tones to rise in pitch. The data is then analyzed in real-time by a Bluetooth-enabled tablet or smartphone.
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