Dynamic Model of Communicating Hydrocephalus for Surgery Simulation

Abstract

We propose a dynamic model of cerebrospinal fluid and intracranial pressure regulation. In this model, we investigate the coupling of biological parameters with a 3-D model, to improve the behavior of the brain in surgical simulators. The model was assessed by comparing the simulated ventricular enlargement with a patient case study of communicating hydrocephalus. In our model, cerebro-spinal fluid production-resorption system is coupled with a 3-D representation of the brain parenchyma. We introduce a new bi-phasic model of the brain (brain tissue and extracellular fluid) allowing for fluid exchange between the brain extracellular space and the venous system. The time evolution of ventricular pressure has been recorded on a symptomatic patient after closing the ventricular shunt. A finite element model has been built based on a computed tomography scan of this patient, and quantitative comparisons between experimental measures and simulated data are proposed.