flow rate baseline and the peltier signal application_number US 201314417932 A description the present invention 500 is termed a u201c continuous real time crt u201d csf flow monitor and method this device provides improved care for hydrocephalus patients by providing a rapid and non invasive method for monitoring changes in csf flow in shunted patients as a result the present invention 500 directly responds to such demands for diagnostic tools for use in a hospital or outpatient settings that work in real time to quantitatively determine shunt function as is discussed in detail later a key aspect the present invention 500 uses non invasive thermal dilution technology to monitor changes is csf flow over extended periods of time enabling neurosurgeons to assess in real time the impact of changes u2014 of valve setting patient position etc u2014 on shunt flow this cannot be accomplished in any way with current technologies and represents an important new tool for managing hydrocephalus as will also be discussed later a u201c peltier sensor u201d of the present invention 500 represents a breakthrough which significantly increases the accuracy and utility of the continuous real time flow monitor and method also referred to as u201c continuous real time crt shuntcheck u201d the peltier sensor is based on peltier cooling and continuous thermal recordings which when monitored are indicative of changes in shunt flow the present invention 500 employs a breakthrough in thermal dilution technology which enables long term continuous real.