3D Visualisation of Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow Within the Human Central Nervous System

The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a biomedical fluid contained within the central nervous system (CNS). It is produced in the ventricular system within the brain and is contained between the meninges, which are membranes lining the brain and the inside of the spine and cranium. It has a major role as a damper that protects the head from injuries and transports biochemical elements and proteins inside the brain. In this paper a three dimensional (3D) model of the human ventricular system (HVS) is used to investigate the flow of CSF within the human brain, using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). CSF can be modelled as a Newtonian fluid and its flow through the HVS can be visualized using CFD. In this investigation a 3D geometric model of the HVS is constructed from MRI data. It is the only model of its type to date. The flow of CSF within the HVS is a complicated phenomenon due to the complex HVS geometry. Understanding the nature of CSF flow allows engineers and physicians to design medical techniques and drugs to treat various HVS complications, such as hydrocephalus as a result of a tumour