Hydrocephalus is a common disorder caused by the buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain. Treatment typically involves the surgical implantation of a pressure-regulated silicone tube assembly, known as a shunt. Unfortunately, shunts have extremely high failure rates and diagnosing shunt malfunction is challenging due to a combination of vague symptoms and a lack of a convenient means to monitor flow. Here, we introduce a wireless, wearable device that enables precise measurements of CSF flow, continuously or intermittently, in hospitals, laboratories or even in home settings. The technology exploits measurements of thermal transport through near-surface layers of skin to assess flow, with a soft, flexible, and skin-conformal device that can be constructed using commercially available components. Systematic benchtop studies and numerical simulations highlight all of the key considerations. Measurements on 7 patients establish high levels of functionality, with data that reveal time dependent changes in flow associated with positional and inertial effects on the body. Taken together, the results suggest a significant advance in monitoring capabilities for patients with shunted hydrocephalus, with potential for practical use across a range of settings and circumstances, and additional utility for research purposes in studies of CSF hydrodynamics.

脑积水是一种由脑脊液 (CSF) 在大脑中积聚引起的常见疾病。治疗通常涉及通过手术植入压力调节硅胶管组件（称为分流器）。不幸的是，分流器的故障率极高，并且由于症状模糊且缺乏监测流量的便捷方法，诊断分流器故障具有挑战性。在这里，我们推出了一种无线可穿戴设备，可以在医院、实验室甚至家庭环境中连续或间歇地精确测量脑脊液流量。该技术利用通过皮肤近表层的热传输测量来评估流动，并使用可使用市售组件构建的柔软、灵活且与皮肤保形的设备。系统的台式研究和数值模拟强调了所有关键考虑因素。对 7 名患者的测量建立了高水平的功能，数据揭示了与身体位置和惯性影响相关的时间依赖性流量变化。总而言之，这些结果表明分流性脑积水患者的监测能力取得了显着进步，具有在一系列环境和情况下实际使用的潜力，并且在脑脊液流体动力学研究中具有额外的实用性。