Effect of metal fragments in brain on electrical monitoring: In vitro and in vivo rat studies

Preliminary results showed, measurements by rheoencephalography (REG) very promising as a practical, noninvasive continuous monitoring modality of traumatic brain/blast injuries. As the impact of metal fragments on the REG signal is unknown, we report here results of our study .The in vitro study confirmed that impedance pulse amplitude waves do not change in the presence of metal (needles) placed between electrodes. In vivo studies: rats under anesthesia (10 rats, 101 trials) were measured after implantation of EEG and REG electrodes in the brain. Metal fragments were represented by 18 g needles inserted and removed between EEG and REG electrodes. Data were stored in a PC. EEG recording typically showed amplitude decrease; REG showed transitory amplitude increase after placement of a needle into either hemisphere. Removal of needles caused a decrease in REG amplitude after a transitory increase. The change in REG amplitude statistically was non-significant. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) autoregulation(AR) persisted following placement of metal fragments in rat brain.