Assessing the condition of a patient in order to provide optimal care requires quick detection of vital signs, especially when treating shock. Patients with severe injuries or with diabetes in a low-sugar state are subject to hemorrhagic and hypoglycemic shock, respectively, which are lifethreatening conditions.
Monitoring the severity of these conditions at home, in the field, or in transport to medical care is difficult because of the number and type of instruments required. Currently, the two methods used to monitor shock are invasive and may negatively impact the patient's health.
Additionally, in combat and accident scenarios, the removal of dead tissue may be necessary to save the patient's life.
The current procedure to test the viability of tissues is inaccurate and often leads to needless removal of viable tissue. Overcoming these invasive and inaccurate methods is critical to improving a shock victim's chance of survival.
Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific (SPAWAR Pacific) has developed a handheld medical microsensor device for digitally monitoring and rapidly processing the medical condition of a patient vulnerable to shock or tissue damage in order to deliver optimal patient care.
The technology consists of a single subdural microprobe with multiple sensors for simultaneously measuring/monitoring pH, blood gases and temperature; detecting the presence of severe infection in the body; as well as providing information on a patient's vital signs used to identify heart and kidney failure.
The microprobe communicates wirelessly with an electronic reader for real-time monitoring.
Another application of the sensor is monitoring tissue pH for assessment of tissue health where severe injury or frostbite has occurred.
For more information, contact Darin D. Oelkers, TechLink, 406-994-772, darin@montana.edu; Dan Swanson, TechLink, 406-994-7736, dss@montana.edu; or Stephen Lieberman, SPAWAR Pacific, 619-553-2778, t2@spawar.navy.mil.
