Unmet Need
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are a major cause of death and disability, with over 61,000 deaths per year in the United States. Since the primary injury, or cause of the TBI cannot be reversed, hospital treatment focuses on preventing secondary injuries, such as avoiding hypotension/hypoxia and maintaining cerebral perfusion pressure. In order to maintain proper intracranial pressure and prevent neurologic deterioration, a decompressive craniectomy, the removal of part of the skull, may be performed. Although this is a life-saving procedure, it can cause complication such as syndrome of the trephined, which include symptoms like dizziness, discomfort at the defect site and mental depression. Currently, the only treatment for this condition is a cranioplasty, or the reconstruction of the cranial defect. However, this surgical procedure can only be performed once the craniectomy site has healed (1-3 months later), and if the patient does not have an infection. Thus, there is a need for a method of treating syndrome of the trephined in patients who are unable to undergo surgical intervention.
Technology Overview
Johns Hopkins researchers have designed a custom 3D printed external cranioplasty device that uses a patient’s CT scan to provide a non-invasive treatment option for craniectomy patients, effectively restoring the equilibrium between intracranial and atmospheric pressure and preventing neurological deterioration. This is the first 3D printed customized external cranioplasty device aimed at the treatment of syndrome of the trephined for patients with skull deformities who cannot undergo surgical intervention for standard cranioplasties.
Stage of Development
Prototype has been developed; clinical testing is being conducted.
Patent
N/A
Publication
