CSF dynamical parameters
NPH is the result of an imbalance in the CSF dynamical system,
and thus it is important to measure the intracranial pressure and
other parameters such as CSF absorption which affect the system.
LIKVOR CELDA® SYSTEM allows for a thorough
investigation to be made, where the pressure and flow dynamics of
each patient is carefully examined.
Predictive parameter
CSF is produced within the brain, circulates around the brain
and spinal cord, and is finally re-absorbed into venous blood. One
predictive test, to try to determine whether a patient will benefit
from shunt surgery or not, is the infusion test. With
LIKVOR CELDA® SYSTEM an infusion test can be
performed using a variety of methods, to estimate the rate of
re-absorption of cerebrospinal fluid into the blood. If the
absorption is malfunctioning, this indicates that the patient is
likely to improve from shunt surgery.
Control of shunt function
After surgery, an infusion test performed with
LIKVOR CELDA® SYSTEM is invaluable in determining
whether or not an implanted shunt is functioning correctly. If a
patient improves post surgically but later changes for the worse,
it is most important to be able to determine if there is a problem
with the shunt implant, or if the condition of the patient has
deteriorated although the shunt is functioning correctly. In this
way unnecessary reoperations can be avoided.
Infusion test with LIKVOR CELDA®
SYSTEM
To perform an infusion test with LIKVOR CELDA®
SYSTEM, two lumbar needles are placed into the spinal canal, below
the spinal cord. The resting pressure of the patient is measured,
and artificial CSF is infused in various patterns. Hereby the
characteristic parameters of the system can be estimated, including
important adherent statistical parameters.
The investigation takes approximately one hour, and during that
time the patient is lying in the supine position on a specially
designed bed in a relaxed way, not uncommonly sleeping through
parts of the investigation. For estimating CSF absorption the
constant pressure method is recommended, but several other methods
are also implemented in LIKVOR CELDA® SYSTEM,
including constant infusion and bolus algorithms, to allow for a
diversity of investigations to be made.
LIKVOR CELDA® SYSTEM is a medical device
that will simplify the mapping of CSF-dynamics in a safe and
reproducible way.
Due to increased knowledge about the brain, brain disorders and
their corresponding symptoms, the need to measure CSF-dynamics has
gradually become more and more important. Until today, CSF-dynamics
has been investigated in many ways with mostly non-standardized,
non-commercially available equipment. Therefore it has been
difficult to gather, compare and summarize data obtained by
research or from clinical investigations.
LIKVOR CELDA® SYSTEM changes the situation for
investigators working either in the clinic, with research, or
both. LIKVOR CELDA® SYSTEM offers automatic
standardized protocols for multiple purposes in diagnosis of
patient CSF-dynamics before and after operation of shunt, in
shunt-control, with constant flow or constant pressure
measurements etc. With its flexibility and easy handling
LIKVOR CELDA® SYSTEM sets a new standard for
investigations of CSF-dynamics.