Prytherch, David Roger (1982) The measurement of the flow of cerebrospinal fluid in response to short duration pressure changes. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

This thesis describes the theory, development and use of an electrochemical flow transducer for the measurement of the flow of cerebrospinal fluid. The flow sensitive part of the flow transducer is a gold sphere cathode at which oxygen is reduced to hydroxyl ions. The rate of reduction of oxygen is limited by the transport of oxygen to the cathode by convective-diffusion and so the current flowing through the cathode is a function of flow past the cathode.

Theories are developed to describe the dependence of the output current on flow velocity, and other variables, for various cathode geometries. In all the cases considered the output current is proportional to the square root of the flow velocity magnitude and directly proportional to the oxygen concentration. The limiting time response of the transducer is that to a decrease in flow velocity and a theory to describe this is presented, for the cathode geometries considered.

Experiments were performed to investigate the dependence of the output current, of the various cathode geometries, on the main variables involved in the response to a steady flow, and in the time response to a decrease in flow. Good agreement was found between the experimental results and the theoretical predictions.

The development of the flow transducer used clinically is described, with the results of the final animal experiment performed to confirm the in-vivo operation of the flow transducer. In the form used clinically the flow transducer is small enough to enter the CSF pathways through an 18 gauge spinal needle whilst still allowing the simultaneous measurement of CSF pressure through the same needle. Typical results from the initial clinical trials are presented.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Subjects:	Q Science > QC Physics Q Science > QP Physiology
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Cerebrospinal fluid, Cerebrospinal fluid pressure, Body fluid flow, Transducers
Official Date:	October 1982
Dates:	Date Event October 1982 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Department of Physics
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Smith, M. J. A.
Sponsors:	Science Research Council (Great Britain)
Format of File:	pdf
Extent:	xi, 200 leaves : charts
Language:	eng

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