This is my senior seminar research project for my BS Physics, at the University of Texas at Arlington. Hydrocephalus is something that is incredibly personal to me, as my husband has had 20 brain surgeries and has been permanently disabled since 2011. In his honor, I created an awareness ribbon for Hydrocephalus that is now used worldwide.
This project is for educational purposes only. Please use the references on the last slide to find the original images for your own use. The information presented here has been obtained by reading several papers published in the medical community.
Do not crop and use any of the images of tattoos, artwork, or people. These are pictures that have been shared with me by people in the Facebook Hydrocephalus community.
Papers referenced:
1 CHRISTOPH MIETHKE GMBH & CO. KG, "proGAV® 2.0: IN TOUCH WITH YOU," , .
2 Ian Piper, "Raised Intracranial Pressure After Head Injury" (2000) .
3 Erwin M Brown, Richard J Edwards and Ian K Pople, "Conservative Management of Patients with Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunt Infections," Neurosurgery 58 (4), 65 (2006).
4 CHRISTOPH MIETHKE GMBH & CO. KG, "proGAV 2.0® Instructions for Use," , .
5 Dr Y. Rajalakshmi, Guide to Physiology, edited by Anonymous (S. Chand Publishing, Ram Nagar, New Delhi, 2010), pp. 157.
6 Roberta Di Terlizzi and Simon Platt, "The function, composition and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid in companion animals: Part I – Function and composition," The Veterinary Journal 172 (3), 422-431 (2006).
7 Romy Scholz et al., "Efficacy and safety of programmable compared with fixed anti-siphon devices for treating idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) in adults – SYGRAVA: study protocol for a randomized trial," Trials 19 (1), 1-10 (2018).
8 Ulrich-W Thomale et al., "Shunt survival rates by using the adjustable differential pressure valve combined with a gravitational unit (proGAV) in pediatric neurosurgery," Childs Nerv Syst 29 (3), 425-431 (2013).
9 Marek Czosnyka et al., Cerebrospinal Fluid Dynamics, in Pediatric Hydrocephalus, edited by Giuseppe Cinalli, Christian Sainte-Rose and Wirginia June Maixner, (Springer Milan, Milano, 2005), pp. 47-63.
10 Sandip Chatterjee and L. Harischandra, "Cerebrospinal fluid shunts – How they work: The basics," Neurology India 66 (1), 24 (2018).
11 Edi Azali Hadzri et al., "Effects of irregular cerebrospinal fluid production rate in human brain ventricular system," AIP Conference Proceedings 1440 (1), 659-664 (2012).
4. Draining the Brain: The Physics of Hydrocephalus and Shunts Desiree Bates
Fig 3: Brain with enlarged ventricles due to Hydrocephalus
5. 99.13% Water
0.87% Both organic and inorganic solids:
Produced within the ventricles of the brain and
partially by the choroid plexus, and is absorbed by
the dural venous sinuses
Draining the Brain: The Physics of Hydrocephalus and Shunts Desiree Bates
Fig 4: The flow of cerebrospinal fluid
6. Skull
(hard and rigid with a fixed volume)
Brain Tissue Vascular System (arteries
& blood)
CSF
Draining the Brain: The Physics of Hydrocephalus and Shunts Desiree Bates
7. Draining the Brain: The Physics of Hydrocephalus and Shunts Desiree Bates
Fig 6: Ventricles in a normal brain compared to a Hydrocephalic brain
8. Draining the Brain: The Physics of Hydrocephalus and Shunts Desiree Bates
Fig 7: Volume-Pressure relationship in the brain
14. Over 400 types of shunts
3 main parts:
• Proximal (Ventricular) catheter
• Distal catheter
• Shunt valve
Draining the Brain: The Physics of Hydrocephalus and Shunts Desiree Bates
Fig 10: Lateral view of shunt system
Fig 9: Frontal view of shunt system
Fig 8: Major components of a shunt system
15. • Drains excess fluid from the ventricles
• Made from silicon rubber
• May be coated with barium for x-ray visibility
• Sometimes antibiotic impregnated (rifampicin
and clindamycin)
• 15 cm - 23 cm in length
• Inner diameter 1.0-1.6mm
• External diameter 2.1-3.2 mm
• May be straight, flanged, or J-shaped
Draining the Brain: The Physics of Hydrocephalus and Shunts Desiree Bates
Fig 11: Imaging of a flanged catheter
Fig 12: Types of catheters
16. • Routed from the burr hole in the
skull
• Made from silicon rubber
• May be coated with barium for x-
ray visibility
• 90 cm - 120 cm in length
• Inner diameter 0.7-1.3mm
• External diameter 2.1-2.5 mm
Draining the Brain: The Physics of Hydrocephalus and Shunts Desiree Bates
Fig 13: Imaging of shunt catheter Fig 14: Imaging of shunt catheter
(enhanced)
17. Distal end of the catheter can be
routed to the:
• Heart: Ventriculoatrial (VA) shunt
• Lungs: Ventriculopleural (VPLS)
shunt
• Abdomen: Ventriculoperitoneal
(VP) shunt
Draining the Brain: The Physics of Hydrocephalus and Shunts Desiree Bates
18. • Regulate flow of CSF from ventricles
• Nearly 200 types of shunt valves
• Operation based on Hydrostatic Pressure: 𝐻𝑆𝑃 = 𝜌𝑔ℎ
If patient is in horizontal position, less fluid flows (2 drops/min). If in vertical position, more fluid
flows (4drops/min)
Draining the Brain: The Physics of Hydrocephalus and Shunts Desiree Bates
Fig 15: Hydrostatic pressure
19. • Function based on opening pressure (OP) and closing pressure (CP) of the
valve
Differential Pressure: DP = ICP + HSP – IAP
OP < DP: valve opens
CP < DP: valve closes
*ICP Intracranial Pressure, *IAP Intraabdominal Pressure
• Types include: Slit valves, Mitre valves, Diaphragm valves, Ball-in-cone
valves
• Ball-in-cone (Ball-spring valve) most efficient: offers maximum flow when
DP > OP
Draining the Brain: The Physics of Hydrocephalus and Shunts Desiree Bates
Fig 16: Mechanical designs of valves
20. • Designed to avoid over-drainage resulting from change in HSP (siphoning)
• Referred to as anti-siphoning devices
• Three types:
• Suction controlled devices – contains a flexible membrane valve that regulates pushing pressure and
sucking pressure. When PP > SP, CSF flows. When PP < SP, no CSF flows
• Flow reducing devices – CSF flow based on differential pressure
• Gravitational valve – uses metal ball to regulate flow across opening
Draining the Brain: The Physics of Hydrocephalus and Shunts Desiree Bates
21. proGAV 2.0® with ShuntAssistant®
• Hybrid valve: proGAV Combines DPV with HSV to avoid
siphoning
• Able to regulate OP with posture changes
Draining the Brain: The Physics of Hydrocephalus and Shunts Desiree Bates
The bow spring controls the OP of the ball-in-cone valve.
The tension of the spring (OP) is controlled by turning the
rotor.
The tantalum ball defines the OP of the valve, and the
sapphire ball ensures the valve is fully closed.
Fig 17: Schematic cross section of the proGAV 2.0
Fig 18: proGAV 2.0 shunt
SAPPHIRE BALL
BOW SPRING
ROTOR
CONNECTOR UNDER
THE SILICONE CATHETER
TANTALUM BALL
SAPPHIRE BALL
ADJUSTABLE UNIT
GRAVITATIONAL
UNIT
22. proGAV 2.0® with ShuntAssistant®
Draining the Brain: The Physics of Hydrocephalus and Shunts Desiree Bates
When patient is in the vertical position:
a) Gravitational unit closes
b) When: 𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑇𝑎𝑛𝐵𝑎𝑙𝑙 < 𝑂𝑃𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑈𝑛𝑖𝑡
Fluid flows freely
Fig 19: ShuntAssistant in vertical position a) closed, b) open
Fig 20: ShuntAssistant in vertical position
23. proGAV 2.0® with ShuntAssistant®
Draining the Brain: The Physics of Hydrocephalus and Shunts Desiree Bates
When patient is in the horizontal position, the gravitational unit
stays open, allowing fluid to flow freely
Fig 21: ShuntAssistant in horizontal position
Fig 22: ShuntAssistant in horizontal position
Fig 23: Adjustable (Differential Pressure) DP-unit a) closed, b) open
24. proGAV 2.0® with
ShuntAssistant®
Draining the Brain: The Physics of Hydrocephalus and Shunts Desiree Bates
Fig 24: Calculating the intraventricular pressure for horizontal and vertical body position
IVP Intraventricular pressure
𝑃𝐿 Opening pressure in horizontal position
(adjustable DP-unit only)
𝑃𝑆 Opening pressure in vertical position
(adjustable DP-unit + gravitational unit)
𝑃𝐵 Pressure in the abdominal cavity
𝑃 𝐻 Hydrostatic pressure
25. proGAV 2.0® with ShuntAssistant®
Draining the Brain: The Physics of Hydrocephalus and Shunts Desiree Bates
• DPV controlled externally with a magnetic “Compass”
• Rotorbrake makes a clicking sound when released/locked
• Shunt valve is MRI safe up to 3 Tesla
Fig 25: Open and closed proGAV 2.0 Adjustment Tool
Fig 26: Adjustment with the proGAV 2.0 Adjustment Tool
26. proGAV 2.0® with ShuntAssistant®
Draining the Brain: The Physics of Hydrocephalus and Shunts Desiree Bates
Fig 27: Pressure level recommendations
28. • Diagnosed with spontaneous Hydrocephalus at age 12
• Had 15 shunt related surgeries in 3 years
• Shunt was a free flowing shunt: the only way to regulate the amount of CSF was
to change his position from sitting/standing to lying down
• Received first programmable shunt in 2006
• Brain tear and damage from multiple surgeries left him permanently disabled in
2010
• Has had a total of 20 brain surgeries to date
• Current shunt is a programmable proGAV 2.0® with ShuntAssistant®
Draining the Brain: The Physics of Hydrocephalus and Shunts Desiree Bates
29. Draining the Brain: The Physics of Hydrocephalus and Shunts Desiree Bates
Fig 28: Placement of shunt system
38. 1. “Faucet” https://www.kisspng.com/png-tap-water-royalty-free-clip-art-drinking-water-cli-
161360/
“Female head silhouette” https://openclipart.org/detail/275981/female-head-profile-
silhouette
“Brain” http://enosart.com/brain-clipart-372/
2. “Biology to a physicist” Google image
3. “Hydrocephalus”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrocephalus#/media/File:Hydrocephalus_(cropped).jpg
4. “The flow of cerebrospinal fluid” http://soweb.me/anatomy-of-brain-
parenchyma/anatomy-of-brain-parenchyma-glasgow-uni-medicine-ilos/
5. “Brain with water drops” MSOffice
6. “Ventricles in a normal brain compared to a Hydrocephalic brain”
https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Normal-pressure-hydrocephalus.-
Anderson/54d34b78087c01503c56503c618fe51cd0c03269
7. “Volume-Pressure relationship in the brain”
8. “Major components of a shunt system”
http://neuroanimations.com/Hydrocephalus/Shunts/VP_Shunt.html
9. “Frontal view of shunt system”
http://neuroanimations.com/Hydrocephalus/Shunts/VP_Shunt.html
10. “Lateral view of a shunt system”
http://neuroanimations.com/Hydrocephalus/Shunts/VP_Shunt.html
11. “Imaging of a flanged catheter” Personal medical files
12. “Types of catheters” Sandip Chatterjee and L. Harischandra, "Cerebrospinal fluid shunts –
How they work: The basics," Neurology India 66 (1), 24 (2018).
13. “Imaging of a shunt catheter”
http://www.wikiradiography.net/page/Radiography+of+VP+Shunts
14. “Imaging of a shunt catheter (enhanced)”
http://www.wikiradiography.net/page/Radiography+of+VP+Shunts
15. “Hydrostatic pressure” Sandip Chatterjee and L. Harischandra, "Cerebrospinal fluid shunts
– How they work: The basics," Neurology India 66 (1), 24 (2018).
Draining the Brain: The Physics of Hydrocephalus and Shunts Desiree Bates
16. “Mechanical designs of valves” Sandip Chatterjee and L. Harischandra, "Cerebrospinal fluid
shunts – How they work: The basics," Neurology India 66 (1), 24 (2018).
17. “Schematic cross section of the proGAV 2.0” CHRISTOPH MIETHKE GMBH & CO. KG,
"proGAV® 2.0: IN TOUCH WITH YOU," , .
18. “proGAV 2.0 shunt” https://www.aesculapusa.com/products/neurosurgery/hydrocephalus-
shunts/progav-2-0
19. “ShuntAssistant in vertical position a) closed, b) open” CHRISTOPH MIETHKE GMBH & CO. KG,
"proGAV 2.0® Instructions for Use," , .
20. “ShuntAssistant in vertical position” CHRISTOPH MIETHKE GMBH & CO. KG, "proGAV® 2.0: IN
TOUCH WITH YOU," , .
21. “ShuntAssistant in horizontal position” CHRISTOPH MIETHKE GMBH & CO. KG, "proGAV® 2.0:
IN TOUCH WITH YOU," , .
22. “ShuntAssistant in horizontal position” CHRISTOPH MIETHKE GMBH & CO. KG, "proGAV 2.0®
Instructions for Use," , .
23. “Adjustable (Differential Pressure) DP-unit a) closed, b) open“CHRISTOPH MIETHKE GMBH &
CO. KG, "proGAV 2.0® Instructions for Use," , .
24. “Calculating the intraventricular pressure for horizontal and vertical body position” CHRISTOPH
MIETHKE GMBH & CO. KG, "proGAV 2.0® Instructions for Use," , .
25. “Open and closed proGAV 2.0 Adjustment Tool” CHRISTOPH MIETHKE GMBH & CO. KG,
"proGAV 2.0® Instructions for Use," , .
26. “Adjustment with the proGAV 2.0 Adjustment Tool” CHRISTOPH MIETHKE GMBH & CO. KG,
"proGAV 2.0® Instructions for Use," , .
27. “Pressure level recommendations”
28. “Placement of shunt system” By Cancer Research UK - Original email from CRUK, CC BY-SA 4.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34332972
29. Remaining images from personal collection/medical records
