Project Overview

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), produced from arterial blood and ependymal cells, helps protect brain from shocks and supports the venous sinuses and also plays an important role in maintaining the homeostasis and metabolism of the central nervous system. Access to this fluid can be critical for physicians to make accurate diagnoses. However, lumbar puncture is a difficult procedure and requires skilled practitioner to blindly navigate around patients’ spine to retrieve the CSF.
As the rate of obesity increase, it became nearly impossible for physicians to perform the procedure blindly in order to find the thecal sac. Failed procedures mean increased pain for the patient, increased time for physicians, and increased cost to the system since fluoroscopic guidance is often required after failure.

We are designing a model for patients and providers to have an easier way of accessing the CSF. In addition, we would like to decrease the failure rates to avoid unnecessary pain for patients and to alleviate cost for the use of fluoroscopic guidance. Ideally, the device can act as a guide to help providers navigate through the patient's lumbar spine.

Team Picture

Contact Information

Team Members

• Camille Duan - Team Leader
• Andrew Budde - Co-Communicator
• Dylan Von Heimburg - Co-Communicator
• Yue Mo - BSAC
• Brian Peck - BWIG
• Maggie Zhou - BPAG

Advisor and Client

• Dr. Sarah Gong - Advisor
• Dr. Benjamin Schnapp - Client