Noteboom The Law Firm

Monitoring TBI Patients With Lab-On-A-Chip

November 4, 2010 - The first couple of hours following a severe or traumatic brain injury are the most critical. The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research have been working with neurosurgeons and engineers in an attempt to develop a piece of equipment that would allow them to continually track vital biochemical and physiological factors necessary in treating patients with severe brain injuries. The Department of Defense (DoD) awarded the institute $5 million in grants to further their cause and aid in developing a "lab-on-a-chip."

Having the ability to measure intracranial pressure is not new. When a brain is severely injured, however, there are other things occurring in the brain, which are much more difficult to monitor. Once fully developed, the "lab-on-a-chip" will allow doctors to measure not only intracranial pressure, but many of the other changes occurring in the brain following a severe injury. In a time where critical changes can occur in seconds, the "lab-on-a-chip" will provide doctors with immediate information that can help them help their patients recover.

The DoD's interest in the "lab-on-a-chip" is its application to the war theater. Being able to collect all this vital information in a single, small chip will give doctors the ability to focus on treating specific issues with the brain almost as soon as issues arise. In addition to intracranial pressure and other biochemical markers, the "lab-on-a-chip" also measures:

• Brain temperature;
• Brain tissue oxygen levels;
• Glucose; and
• Lactate.

The information the "lab-on-a-chip" provides will be of significant help during patient transport. Additionally, it will give doctors the ability to treat secondary issues, which may very well result in being able to provide life-saving care where it was not possible before.