A new technology to prevent ductal obstruction in patients with hydrocephalus

The early diagnosis and treatment of this complication is a considerable medical challenge, as there are currently no techniques or prevention programmes
to prevent it.
Over time, complications affected a considerable number of patients
with hydrocephalus with implantation shunts.
It is estimated that about 6,000-10,000 people (adults and children) in Andalusia alone suffer from hydrocephalus
.

The experiments, conducted in a European project called FUSCLEAN, demonstrate the technique and show that concentrated ultrasound emitted from outside the body can isolate substances
in a controlled manner from inside a shunt implanted in the brain of a patient with hydrocephalus.
FUSCLEAN technology enables preventive cleaning
of catheters and valves without affecting the brain or other parts of the body.

This study was recently published in the journal Surgical Neurosurgery.
The concept and technology were designed and developed by Emilio Gómez, Professor of Applied Physics at the Faculty of Advanced Engineering and Technology of the University of Seville, in collaboration
with Virgen del Rocío, Affiliated Hospital of the University of Seville, and Javier Márquez, a neurosurgeon at the Institute of Biomedical Research of the University of Seville (IBIS).

The research included numerical three-dimensional simulations, experiments
using actual catheters and valves in mannequins and laboratory models.

A technique for related diseases

Hydrocephalus is a highly correlated neurological disorder
.
If left untreated, the disease is fatal
.
In most cases (80%), treatment involves implantation of a cerebrospinal fluid shunt system (using catheters and valves) into a distal cavity (usually the peritoneum).

However, complications are common and difficult to predict
.
The most common is obstruction of blood flow through implanted catheters and valves, requiring immediate neurosurgical treatment due to the risk of
severe nerve damage and even death.
These complications have a profound societal impact on patients' quality of life, families and caregivers, and high economic costs
.

The FUSCLEAN technology will allow the development of individualized preventive treatment according to the individual's circumstances and triage, which can be scheduled
during regular examinations of the patient.

The only Andalusian project selected

The concept and design of the project began within the framework of a high-impact and repercussive European programme (Attraction Programme) led by CERN, with the objective of developing innovative technologies
for science and society.
More than 1,200 proposals from 40 countries were submitted to the project; FUSCLEAN is the only project
in Andalusia to receive funding.

The implementation of the study was also supported by the Government of Andalusia, through the Technical Institute of the International Campus of Excellence of Andalusia at the University of Malaga and the University of Seville in the field of health and social welfare, as well as the collaboration between the Spanish Foundation for Innovative and Prospective Health (FIPSE) and the
Andalusian Technology Company responsible for technology transfer.