Multicompartmental Poroelasticity as a Platform for the Integrative Modeling of Water Transport in the Brain - Computer Models in Biomechanics - page 291

Chapter 22
Multicompartmental Poroelasticity
as a Platform for the Integrative Modeling
of Water Transport in the Brain

John C. Vardakis, Brett J. Tully, and Yiannis Ventikos

Abstract This work proposes the implementation of a multiple-network poroelas-
tic theory (MPET) model for the purpose of investigating in detail the transport of
water within the cerebral environment. The key advantage of using the MPET repre-
sentation is that it accounts for fluid transport between CSF, brain parenchyma and
cerebral blood. A further novelty in the model is the amalgamation of anatomically
accurate Choroid Plexus regions, with their individual feeding arteries. This model
is used to demonstrate and discuss the impact of aqueductal stenosis on the cerebral
ventricles, along with possible future treatment techniques.

22.1 Introduction

Brain diseases affect over one quarter of the European population, at an estimated
cost of over 450 billion (Gustavsson et al., 2011 ). Age-related changes are im-

posing huge challenges to the global healthcare system. Diseases of old-age, such
as dementia and normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), are exerting substantial
pressures on society through growing numbers and costs. At the same time, medical
experts and policy makers are increasingly aware that the efficacy and economy of
therapy is strongly connected with the personalization of treatment.
This research proposes a novel application of multiple-network poroelastic the-
ory (MPET) to investigate cerebral fluid transport. A detailed investigation of mul-
tiscalar, spatio-temporal transport of fluid between the cerebral blood, cerebrospinal
fluid (CSF) and brain parenchyma is conducted. Specifically, the MPET model of
the cerebral tissue is coupled with a three-dimensional representation of the CSF

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J.C. Vardakis · B.J. Tully · Y. Ventikos ( )

Fluidics and Biocomplexity Group, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of
Engineering Science, University of Oxford, OX1 3PJ, Oxford, UK
e-mail: [e-mail]
J.C. Vardakis
e-mail: [e-mail]
B.J. Tully
e-mail: [e-mail]