Posture related in-vitro characterization of a flow regulated MEMS CSF valve

Overdrainage in upright position is one of the most prevalent issues in treating hydrocephalus with a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt. Anti-siphon devices (ASDs) are employed to reduce this problem. A novel microelectromechanical system (MEMS)-based valve, termed Chronoflow device, aims to regulate CSF drainage indifferently of the body posture. With this study, the suitability of this MEMS-based valve is evaluated regarding its use for the treatment of hydrocephalus, particularly for the prevention of overdrainage and blockage. In total, four Chronoflow devices were tested. An established in-vitro hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test bed was used to investigate the valves regarding their pressure-flow characteristics, their behaviors towards CSF dynamics, and their capabilities to prevent CSF overdrainage in upright position. Additionally, a contamination test was conducted to evaluate the susceptibility of the device to blockage due to particles. All valves tested regulated the drainage rate at similar nominal flows and independently of posture. The pressure-flow relation measured, however, was notably higher than numerically calculated. Regarding the CSF dynamics, the first three valves tested led to a decreased steady-state intracranial pressure in supine position and showed stable drainage rate in upright position. During the transitional phase from supine to upright and vice versa, the valves continuously adjusted the outflow resistance, which resulted in a stable transitional phase preventing overdrainage. Yet, the fourth valve showed continuous overdrainage in upright position due to an increased nominal flow. However, after several test iterations the nominal flow decreased and stabilized at a level similar to that of the first three valves tested. The contamination test showed that most particles initially adhere to the pillars and spread throughout the cavity of the valve as the concentration of particles increases, thereby affecting the displacement of the membrane. The devices generally provide a stable flow regulation and prevent overdrainage in upright position. Specifically, their drainage behaviors during the posture changes are very effective. However, they also showed high hysteresis and sensitivity towards particle contamination, which resulted in initial increased and altering nominal flows after many test iterations. This result suggests that the MEMS design presented lacks robustness. Yet, an upstream filter and specific coatings on the fluid pathway may increase significantly its reliability.