In partnership with Mass Eye and Ear, Ken Carr developed a 27 gigahertz MMIC radiometric sensor that accurately measures newborn brain temperature with a side-looking dielectric rod transducer to non-invasively and passively measure newborn brain temperature at the target tissue. Similar to Carr’s earlier development of an FDA-approved infiltration detection system to non-invasively monitor and detect infiltrations/extravasations of IV catheters during IV administration, his new Brain Temperature Monitoring System measures temperature in the eardrum.
Because infants’ ear canals are so small, Carr developed a smooth ceramic tip cushioned by a foam ball. The probe fits into the base of the newborn’s ear canal (in close proximity to the base of the tympanic membrane) and uses millimeter frequencies to measure temperature at the base of the eardrum near the carotid artery. This method is more accurate than measuring temperature through the skull and solves the problem of how to measure actual brain temperature (the target tissue). Development of the probe included working with newborn patients at Boston’s Mass General Hospital. Applied ThermoLogic (ATL) conducted the research. On December 12, 2018, Carr received a patent for the Non-Invasive Microwave Radiometric Sensing. He intends to license the patent to a company able to include it in ongoing NIH clinical trials. ATL is available to provide support.