Grant: Team Grant - Clinical Imaging

Stroke and epilepsy are the two most common neurological problems. Because it is so prevalent, stroke is identified as the most common cause of epilepsy in adult and infant population and the second most common cause of dementia in adults. For these neurological conditions, neuroimaging continues to be a mainstay of diagnosis, management, and investigation. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), a novel technique, which can non-invasively monitor the rapid changes of regional cerebral volume and tissue oxygenation (as seen during stroke or seizures), may be of great value in the understanding, evaluation and treatment of these conditions. Preliminary studies using relatively short NIRS recordings and a limited number of optodes have shown their clinical potential in distinct situations. Long-term NIRS monitoring however remains difficult with existing commercial devices being too bulky and/or too heavy for long-term measurements in epilepsy, stroke or intensive care units. Over the last few years, we have established a multidisciplinary collaborative task force to evaluate, design and build dual imaging NIRS-videoEEG system for real-time monitoring. Building on work already started, we propose in this research program to implement an ultra-lightweight ultra low-power wireless combined multichannel NIRS-videoEEG intended for long-term monitoring applications. Once the system completed, prototypes will be prepared and validation exploiting its capacity will be performed. Of particular interest in clinical testing, four projects are proposed for bedside long-term monitoring of both NIRS and EEG: 1) monitoring in a stroke unit; 2) monitoring of aphasic patients in a rehabilitation unit; 3) monitoring during cardiac intraoperative procedures; and 4) monitoring in at risk infants. International collaborations are undertaken to facilitate both the system implementation and its clinical evaluation.