Non-invasive telemetric pressure measurement

Importance and limitations of shunt-based ICP management

Why more knowledge on shunt performance is needed

Management of ICP in hydrocephalus patients often involves implantation of a shunt. Advances in shunt technology, particularly adjustable and gravitational valves, have significantly improved patient outcomes.^15,16

However, finding the best possible patient specific pressure setting and verifying shunt function can be difficult and time consuming.

• Unspecific symptoms
• Multiple pressure adjustments
• Cause of symptoms remains unclear

Shunt assessment is challenging, expensive and not risk-free

Currently available invasive and non-invasive methods such as shunt tap or computed tomography (CT) cannot reliably assess shunt function.^17,18,21

• Absence in ventricular size
• Low negative predictive values

Surgical exploration of shunt function puts the patient at risk, is costly and is often shown to be unnecessary in hindsight.¹⁸ In addition, cranial CT has been shown to increase the risk for brain tumors.²²

• Increased risk of infection¹⁸
• Risk of brain tumors²²
• High associated costs¹⁸
• Uneccessary removal of shunt¹⁸

M.scio® – permanent solution for ICP management

M.scio^® is the first ICP sensor approved for permanent implantation. With the means of the Reader Unit Set, M.scio^® provides straightforward, non-invasive and easy-to-use real-time ICP measurements.²³ No calibration, zeroing or complex setup is required before implantation and measurements.The M.scio^® saves time by avoiding unnecessary hospitalizations, investigations, radiation exposure and revisions.^{16, 25-27}
Surgery time for valve implantation is not significantly prolonged.²³ As a consequence, the M.scio^® is also highly cost-efficient compared to traditional clinical practice. ²⁶

... as well as reduction of number of unneccesary revisions ^{16, 25-27}