Numerical Modeling of the Intracranial Pressure using Windkessel Models

Abstract

The intracranial pressure (ICP) is an important factor in the proper functioning of the brain. This pressure is needed to be constantly regulated, since an abnormal elevation can be quite dangerous. In this article, we develop some numerical tools to better understand the regulation of this pressure. In particular, as it is impossible to measure the ICP in a non-invasive way, these numerical tools can allow to estimate values of the ICP. In addition, we propose to compute the dynamics of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), taking into account the connected environment of the skull and the arterio-venous flows. A computational fluid dynamics model in two dimensions is developed for the cerebrospinal fluid system, with Windkessel type boundary conditions. This model shows that the dynamics can impact the distribution of the CSF in the different compartments of the cerebrospinal system.

The ocular mathematical virtual simulator: A validated multiscale model for hemodynamics and biomechanics in the human eye

“…32 ICP is usually measured with a lumbar puncture, an invasive technique in which a needle is inserted into the spinal canal to collect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). However, some recent clinical works 61,62 and mathematical models, 63 propose innovative methods in order to estimate ICP noninvasively. The baseline values for the global parameters are reported in Table 2.…”