Fabrication of brain spatula equipped with fiber-optic pressure sensor and evaluation of brain retraction pressure used brain model

Abstract

This paper describes a brain retraction pressure sensor using a fiber-optic pressure sensor for neurosurgical application. The requirement for this pressure sensor is: it can measure a pressure of 60 mmHg; it can be attached to arbitrary place on a brain spatula; and it can prevent electric leakage, can be unaffected by electromagnetic noise. It can also do temperature compensation. The pressure sensor was made of a fiber-optic pressure sensor and thermocouple placed in a concave of a metal part filled with silicone rubber and it was mounted on a brain spatula with steri tapes. Pressure measurement and temperature characteristics were evaluated. In the evaluation result, the sensor output was linear with the applied pressure, and it could do temperature compensation. Retraction test to the brain model was performed using the brain spatula equipped with the pressure sensor. As a result, doctor could confirm the exclusion pressure value.