Endoscopic neurosurgery is a minimally invasive technique used for intraventricular procedures. Typically, a small stainless steel working channel is introduced into the brain to create an opening for the endoscope and microsurgical tools to be inserted during the procedure. Although widely used, surgeons desire greater access and intermittent pressure relief. This project designed and evaluated a flexible sheath and tunneling system to allow for a larger working channel into the brain. Various designs were tested using finite element analysis and a novel in vitro gel model. The final proposed design increased the working area by 500% in its expanded state, while not significantly exceeding the pressure on the brain tissue caused by the current system.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Colakhodzic, Naida
• Langley, Courtney Emily
• Mollard, Rachel Jacqueline

Contributors

• Cataltepe, Oguz

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-050114-144256

Advisor

• Norige, Mark A.
• Shivkumar, Satya

Year

• 2014

Sponsor

• University of Massachusetts Medical Center

Date created

• 2014-05-01

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biomedical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright