[Computer-assisted test ring for cerebrospinal fluid drainage systems]

The present paper describes a computer-aided test rig for shunts used to treat hydrocephalus. The test rig permits the automatic testing of commercially available shunt systems at defined flow or pressure levels. A thin glass tube serves as a reference to ensure the proper functioning of the setup. Six brand-new shunt systems were tested. As an application example, the dependency of shunt function on angular orientation in space was investigated. It was found that such a dependency actually exists.