Reassessment of brain elasticity for analysis of biomechanisms of hydrocephalus

Zeike Taylor; Karol Miller

doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2003.11.027

Reassessment of brain elasticity for analysis of biomechanisms of hydrocephalus

J Biomech. 2004 Aug;37(8):1263-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2003.11.027.

Authors

Zeike Taylor¹, Karol Miller

Affiliation

¹ School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley/Perth, WA 6009, Australia.

PMID: 15212932
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2003.11.027

Abstract

This paper presents results from a finite element study of the biomechanics of hydrocephalus, with special emphasis on a reassessment of the parenchyma elastic modulus. A two-dimensional finite element model of the human brain/ventricular system is developed and analysed under hydrocephalic loading conditions. It is shown that the Young's modulus of the brain parenchyma used in previous studies (3000-10000 Pa) corresponds to strain rates much higher than those present in hydrocephalic brains. Consideration of the brain's viscoelasticity leads to the derivation of a considerably lower modulus value of approximately 584 Pa.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Brain / diagnostic imaging
Brain / physiopathology*
Cerebral Ventricles / physiopathology
Compressive Strength
Elasticity
Finite Element Analysis
Humans
Hydrocephalus / physiopathology*
Models, Biological*
Tensile Strength
Tomography, X-Ray Computed