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Computational Fluid Dynamics for the Assessment of Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow and Its Coupling with Cerebral Blood Flow

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Biomechanics of the Brain

Part of the book series: Biological and Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering ((BIOMEDICAL))

Abstract

The dynamics of cerebrospinal fluid flow are directly linked to those of the ­cardiovascular system. The heart not only drives blood flow, but is also at the origin of CSF pulsation through the expansion and contraction of cerebral blood vessels. As was detailed in the preceding chapter, CSF dynamics can be altered by diseases and conditions such as hydrocephalus and, in turn, CSF dynamics can be analyzed to aid in the diagnosis of these. Bulk models describing intracranial fluid dynamics and punctual flow measurements using MRI have thus become important tools for this purpose.

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Acknowledgment

Swiss National Science Foundation through SmartShunt – The Hydrocephalus Project.

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  1. Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Sonneggstrasse 3, ML J 27.2, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland

    Vartan Kurtcuoglu

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  1. Vartan Kurtcuoglu
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Correspondence to Vartan Kurtcuoglu .

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  1. Intelligent Systems for Medicine Lab., The University of Western Australia, Stirling Highway 35, Crawley/Perth, 6009, West Australia, Australia

    Karol Miller

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Kurtcuoglu, V. (2011). Computational Fluid Dynamics for the Assessment of Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow and Its Coupling with Cerebral Blood Flow. In: Miller, K. (eds) Biomechanics of the Brain. Biological and Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9997-9_8

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