CSF lab.com

Welcome to the Cerebrospinal Fluid Laboratory wiki page.

in silico, in vivo, and in vitro CSF experiments. Laser Doppler vibrometry surface motion analysis of an in vitro spinal cord model (left), in vivo MR pulse wave velocity measurement in the spinal canal (center), and an in vitro cerebrospinal fluid system model (right).

Overview

The Cerebrospinal Fluid Laboratory is an international collaborative research center dedicated to investigation of the underlying biomechanical and hydrodynamic mechanisms responsible for pathologies of the cerebrospinal and cerebrovascular systems.

Purpose

1. foster collaboration and discussion between cerebrospinal fluid and cerebrovascular researchers
2. provide in vivo and in vitro experimental data to computational researchers
3. increase interest in cerebrospinal fluid and craniospinal disorder research

Projects

Active

• Understanding the coupling of cranial blood flow and the cerebrospinal fluid system: an in vivo and in silico study
• implementation of a 4DMR flow sequence
• What is the relative distribution of spinal subarachnoid space volumetric compliance in healthy subjects?
• Does CPAP influence cranial blood flow in healthy volunteers?
• Are changes in intracranial pressure detectable by measurement of the cerebrospinal fluid velocity wave speed in the spinal canal?
• in vitro and in silico modeling of CSF wave transmission in the spinal subarachnoid space
• An in vitro examination of the influence of spinal subarachnoid space shunting in post-traumatic syringomyelia
• How well do 3D CFD simulations compare with 4D MRI flow measurements?
• design and development of an improved vascular graft

Past

• Quantification of the Modulus of Elasticity and Dynamic Properties of Sylgard for Various Mixing Ratios, 2003-2006
• MR Measurement of Cerebrospinal Fluid Velocity Wave Speed in the Spinal Canal
• Spinal Subarachnoid Space Pressure Measurements in an In Vitro Spinal Stenosis Model: Implications on Syringomyelia Theories
• The influence of coughing on cerebrospinal fluid pressure in an in vitro syringomyelia model with spinal subarachnoid space stenosis
• Syringomyelia Hydrodynamics: An In Vitro Study Based on In Vivo Measurements

Available projects (research)

• non-invasive assessment of local arterial compliance by simultaneous ultrasound and tonometry measurements
• Measurement and characterization of cough induced subarachnoid space pressure wave reverberations during lumbar puncture

Available projects (medtech R&D)

• non-invasive measurement of cerebrovascular properties

External Links

Research laboratories

EPFL Hemodynamics and Cardiovascular Technology Lab

University of Akron Biofluids Lab

University of Illinois at Chicago Acoustics and Vibrations Lab

CMU Vascular Biomechanics Lab

UPitt Engineered Tissue Mechanics and Mechanobiology Lab

UPitt Vascular Bioengineering Lab

ETH smart shunt hydrocephalus project

Organizations

Conquer Chiari.org

American Syringomyelia Alliance Project

Column of Hope

Chiari Syringomyelia Foundation

ASME

BMES News Bulletin

National Kidney Foundation

Whitaker Foundation

NIH Search for Grants CRISP