Title: CSF Flow Model
Names
Tim Eng – Team Leader
Lauren Hensley – BSAC
Mary Lim – BWIG
April Zehm – Communicator
Client
Victor Haughton, M.D.
UW Dept. of Radiology
Phone: 263-5306
email: vmhaughton@facstaff.wisc.edu
Date: 4/27/04 – 5/3/04
Problem Statement
The goal of this project is to create a life-size physical model of the human hindbrain and
upper cervical spinal canal. This will be used to study how varying dimensions affect
cerebrospinal fluid flow (CSF flow) in terms of velocity and pressure. Oscillatory flow is
required in the model, and pressure must be quantifiable.
Last Week’s Goals
 Meet on Wednesday, April 28 to finalize the prototype and perform testing.
 Complete preparations for the final poster presentation.
 Write final report.
This Week’s Goals
 Complete final report and evaluations
 Present prototype to client on Thursday, May 6
Summary of Accomplishments
 We met on Wednesday, April 28 to complete prototype construction and testing. The IV
tubing provided by Dr. Haughton was temporarily placed in the small holes drilled into
blocks 1, 5, and 10 using a rubber sealant. We pumped water through the model to see if
the observed relative fluid heights were as expected (highest at greatest diameter). This
occurred temporarily; however, air present in circulation and leaking prevented further
testing.
 On Thursday, April 29, the leaking problem was addressed by putting petroleum jelly in
between the blocks. This seemed to work fairly well, and further testing proceeded with
no leaking, and air bubbles were minimized.
 In class, we presented our poster and prototype.
Difficulties
 When testing, we encountered significant leaking, and air accumulated within the system
of blocks and pump. This was eliminated by coating the blocks with petroleum jelly.

The fluid in the pressure measuring tubes was seen to be pulsating when the pump was
turned on, so it was somewhat difficult to see the differing heights. This will not be a
problem in the future as transducers will be used to measure pressure, so no visual
measurements will be taken.
Activities
Team: 5 hours – Completed construction of prototype, began testing, prepared for the
final poster presentation, presented our poster and prototype in class
Tim Eng: 7 hours – Worked to eliminate leaking and air bubbles, updated design
notebook, set up poster and prototype with Mary for presentation, wrote progress
report
Lauren Hensley: 3 hours – Acquired materials for prototype, worked on presentation
Mary Lim: 3 hours – Updated website and design notebook, wrote problems section of
final report
April Zehm: 5 hours – Poster presentation preparation, final paper drafting
Total time this week: 23 hours
Cumulative time: 181.25 hours
Project Schedule
Task
Deliverables
Progress Reports
Mid-semester Presentation
Preliminary Design Report
Final Poster Presentation
Final Report
Meetings
Client
Final Meeting with Advisor
BSAC
Research
Chiari I Malformation
CSF Flow
Current Patents
Design
Brainstorming
Decide on Final Design
Drawings
Prototype
Order Parts/Materials
Machine Parts
Assemble
Test
Website
January
20 27
3
February
10 17 24
2
March
9 16 23
30
6
April
13 20
27
May
4 11
Team
Tim Eng
Lauren Hensley
Mary Lim
April Zehm
Expenses
Date
4/6/04
4/21/04
4/21/04
4/21/04
Item
Polycarbonate sheet
4 Stainless steel threaded rods
+ 4 wing nuts
¼” Flexible tubing (3 ft)
Goop Marine (rubber sealant)
TOTAL
Cost
$29.76
$5.06
Comments
12” x 24”x 3/8” (From McMaster-Carr)
To align blocks and hold them together
$0.87
$4.39
$40.08
For fluid flow
To seal IV tubing into blocks