Novel Shunt System for Endovascular Management of Obstructive Hydrocephalous

Abstract

Our team is seeking to design an endovascular shunt system for treating obstructive hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus occurs when cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) builds up in the brain’s ventricles, and puts pressure on the brain. This restricts blood flow and can cause damage to the brain tissue. Current treatments are highly invasive and are largely ineffective in treating obstructive hydrocephalus specifically. A less-invasive approach for managing obstructive hydrocephalus is critical in order to provide effective treatment with decreased risk.

Our device uses an endovascular approach and pierces the transverse sinus in order to access the lateral ventricles. A ventricular catheter is inserted into the internal jugular vein and then is passed through the sigmoid sinus and into the transverse sinus. Our device will include a sharp catheter-tip attachment that will then be used to pierce the transverse sinus wall and reach the ventricles. This catheter will then be connected to a distal catheter which feeds into the peritoneal cavity. With a valve to moderate CSF flow through the catheters, this creates a shunt that allows CSF to drain from the brain’s ventricles to the peritoneal cavity.

The specifications we determined necessary for our design were the CSF range, infection range, service life, and blockage rate. Our device’s main requirement to function effectively is the ability to control the CSF range in the brain and keep the CSF at a level of 7-15 mmHg. Our device also needs to have infection rates and blockage rates of less than 5% as well as a service life of 10 years. These specifications are critical in order for our device to outperform the current market standard. Our main manufacturing costs are derived from our guidewire, needle, sheath, valve, and microcatheters, which based on current bulk production values create a cost of around $15 per unit.

Video