New Method for Optimal Stabilization of the Transcranial Doppler Transducer during Monitoring: Normal Controls and Patient Application

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Abstract
Maintaining proper alignment of the transcranial Doppler probe during continuous monitoring has been a major limiting factor in its clinical and experimental application. We recently developed a simple yet reliable method of probe stabilization that allows continuous monitoring of blood flow velocities from any of the vessels accessible through the transtemporal window without regard to patient position or head movement. Under laboratory conditions, blood flow velocities were recorded in 5 subjects in the supine, sitting, standing, and head-down positions. Also, measurements were carried out during flexion, extension, lateral rotation, and tilting of the neck. In addition, 10 patients were successfully monitored in the acute stroke unit for periods of 12 to 72 hours. There was excellent preservation of Doppler waveforms during all these maneuvers. This device offers a method of stabilizing transcranial Doppler transducers during continuous monitoring, which is more practical than those available so far. It results in an expansion of the potential clinical and experimental applications of this ultrasonic technique.