# Development of a Smart Shunt with ICP-feedback for the Treatment of Hydrocephalus

> **NIH NIH R43** · MADISON SCIENTIFIC, INC. · 2024 · $228,828

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Hydrocephalus is a devastating condition characterized by a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain.
The most utilized treatment for hydrocephalus is the CSF shunt in which a catheter diverts excess CSF from the
ventricles of the brain through a one-way valve to an area in the body that can reabsorb the fluid (most commonly
the peritoneal cavity). Despite technological advances in the 6 decades since the shunt was first introduced,
nearly 40% of all shunts fail within one year of placement, and most fail within 3 years, requiring multiple revision
surgeries per patient. This translates to recurring debilitating symptoms for the patient, unnecessary
hospitalizations and surgery, and death, ultimately costing the healthcare system well over $2 billion annually.
Although many shunts that exist on the market today have attempted to control for gravity and other variables
researched, none of the current shunt systems works reliably enough to prevent shunt failure. We are developing
a “smart shunt”, a comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic shunt system that aims to maintain optimal ICP by
monitoring and draining optimal amounts of CSF for each given patient, thus eliminating
underdrainage/overdrainage, to eventually decrease the risk of shunt obstruction and long-term complications
related to erratic drainage. The device is a multi-system technology composed of an ICP sensor, communication
modules, and a valve. The sensor transmits instantaneous pressures inside the brain to a microcontroller, which
transforms incoming pressures into a moving average. The moving average, in turn, excludes transient
instantaneous ICP changes related to position (gravity) or activities of daily living (coughing, straining, etc.) When
the average ICP exceeds a threshold, the microcontroller sends a signal to open the valve. As opposed to
commercial valves, which open during any instance of elevated ICP (e.g., from a cough or sudden standing),
our smart valve would open in a controlled fashion, eliminating erratic drainage.
Our team has prototyped and shown proof-of-concept of each individual component of the shunt system. While
some components need one more level of development to advance the readiness of the technology, a few key
subsystems hold higher technical risk, which if overcome, would enable the integration and success of the overall
shunt system to function safely and effectively. The completion of this device would mark the first-in-class “smart”
shunt that effectively monitors ICP and appropriately drains CSF.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10931419
- **Project number:** 5R43NS132701-02
- **Recipient organization:** MADISON SCIENTIFIC, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** TYLER WANKE
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $228,828
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-09-19 → 2025-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10931419

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10931419, Development of a Smart Shunt with ICP-feedback for the Treatment of Hydrocephalus (5R43NS132701-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10931419. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*