Imagine diagnosing a severe brain injury without a single invasive procedure! A UK startup has developed an incredible light-based sensor that could transform how we detect and manage traumatic brain injuries, moving away from risky, invasive methods. Could this new device truly make the “golden hour” for TBI patients more effective?
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) stands as a formidable global health challenge, a leading cause of death and long-term disability stemming from sudden head impacts. The immediate aftermath of such an injury demands rapid, accurate assessment, yet the current “gold standard” for determining injury severity—measuring intracranial pressure (ICP)—involves highly invasive procedures. This critical diagnostic gap often leaves medical professionals in the dark during the crucial “golden hour,” when vital decisions regarding patient management could dramatically alter outcomes, highlighting an urgent need for advanced, less intrusive methods.
Emerging from this pressing need is Crainio, a pioneering UK-based startup poised to revolutionize TBI diagnostics. At the forefront of their innovation is an inexpensive, light-based instrument capable of non-invasively measuring intracranial pressure. This groundbreaking medical technology, championed by chief scientist Panicos Kyriacou, promises a safer, more accessible approach, moving away from the risky insertion of pressure sensors directly into the brain.
The core of Crainio’s ingenious device lies in its use of optical sensors and near-infrared light. By shining specific frequencies of light into the brain through the forehead, the technology captures optical signals known as photoplethysmograms (PPG). These PPG signals, recorded just like a simple sticking plaster, carry crucial information about the brain’s physiology and hemodynamics. When intracranial pressure rises, brain arteries and vessels become compressed, altering their viscoelastic properties, which in turn impacts the PPG signal.
Deciphering these subtle changes in the PPG signal is where Crainio’s advanced healthcare innovation truly shines. The company has developed sophisticated algorithms to interrogate the optical data and integrated machine learning models to accurately estimate intracranial pressure. This intricate process transforms complex physiological data into actionable insights, providing clinicians with a reliable, real-time understanding of a patient’s brain status without any physical intrusion.
The journey of this remarkable technology began in 2016 at City, University of London, with initial funding from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to explore the feasibility of a non-invasive intracranial sensor. After successful prototyping and securing intellectual property, Crainio was established in 2022. The startup swiftly garnered further support, including an Innovate UK biomedical catalyst grant in 2023, and additional NIHR funding, propelling the device towards advanced clinical trials and commercialization.
Crainio is now advancing into crucial clinical trials, partnering with prestigious institutions like the Royal London Hospital and experts from Cambridge’s traumatic brain injury team. These studies involve comparing the data from Crainio’s optimized non-invasive monitoring probe with the “gold standard” invasive intracranial pressure bolts in patients admitted to neurocritical trauma units. This rigorous validation process, approved by the UK’s MHRA, aims to refine algorithms and enhance the accuracy of their diagnostic tools.
While initially focused on critical care, the portable Crainio system has vast potential beyond hospitals, including use in ambulances and air transfer. Its non-invasive nature and user-friendly design—a forehead sensor connected to a small electronic box with a graphical interface—make it adaptable for diverse environments. Crucially, Crainio is committed to making this vital traumatic brain injury diagnostic widely affordable, ensuring its benefits reach healthcare systems globally, regardless of economic capacity.
Ultimately, Crainio’s primary motivation transcends commercial success; it is to create accessible solutions that empower clinicians to diagnose TBI effectively, faster, and earlier. By providing immediate, accurate insights into intracranial pressure, this technology promises to improve patient outcomes significantly, enhancing quality of life for countless individuals. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from the neurocritical care community and other interested sectors, like rugby associations, underscores the profound impact this innovation is poised to make in modern medicine.
