title: Laboratory testing of three intracranial pressure microtransducers: technical report.
abstract: Three comparatively priced intracranial pressure (ICP) microtransducers are now available, each characterized by the manufacturer as having very low zero drift over long periods, an excellent frequency response, and a low measurement error. The three microtransducers, coded Transducer A (Camino OLM ICP monitor; Camino Laboratories, San Diego, CA), Transducer B (Codman Microsensor ICP Transducer; Codman & Shurtlef Inc., Randolph, MA), and Transducer C (ICP Monitoring Catheter Kit OPX-SD [4F]; InnerSpace Medical, Irvine, CA), were examined in a pressure-flow test rig designed for assessment of hydrocephalus shunts. All three microtransducers compiled with the manufacturers' specifications and gave high-quality readings under test conditions. However, some differences were noted; Transducer C had the lowest 24-hour zero drift (drifts in all transducers were < 0.8 mm Hg). The temperature drift was very low in Transducer B and C, but Transducer A had a significantly higher drift (0.27 mm Hg/degrees C). Transducer A had a static error < 0.3 mm Hg, Transducer B < 2 mm Hg, and Transducer C < 8 mm Hg. Frequency detection in Transducers A and B were very good (bandwidth, > 30 Hz), whereas Transducer C had a limited bandwidth of 20 Hz. Transducer B scored the best overall, but all three scored satisfactorily during bench testing.
authors: United Kingdom Shunt Evaluation Laboratory & Academic Neurosurgical Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, England.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Czosnyka
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Czosnyka
authors: J D
authors: JD
authors: Pickard
mesh_terms: D015170:Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007427:Intracranial Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D008959:Models, Neurological; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation; D014159:Transducers; D014696:Ventriculostomy / Q000295:instrumentation