Surgical Instrument for Shunt Placement in Hydrocephalus Patients

Sponsor: Aesculap Inc

Team: Mind Flow

Coach: Brian Jensen

Students: Alyssa Huber, Alex Kneese, David Miller, Nannette Narcisco, Troy Russell, Greg Warner

While performing surgeries for hydrocephalus (more commonly known as “water in the brain”), neurosurgeons face the problem of locating the ventricles of the brain, where excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is found.

Team Mindflow developed an instrument called the CSF Sniffer, to help doctors more easily detect CSF. The tool uses sensing technology and a simple system of green and red LED lights to alert doctors to the proper depth in surgery. Traditionally, doctors have had to take many tedious CT scans and MRI’s to locate ventricles, and other alternatives were bulky and time consuming. The CSF Sniffer will simplify the process of surgery by decreasing time and increasing accuracy.

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