A Nonlinear Hyperelastic Model of Pressure Volume Function of Cranial Components

Abstract

The pressure-volume relationship (PVR) in the intracranial cerebrospinal fluid space has been a matter of investigation for quite sometime. The quantitative considerations of the PVR are believed to have important clinical implications, and attempts have been made to study the pressure-volume characteristics associated with a variety of disease states. Efforts have been made by researchers to understand the phenomenon in terms of mechanics. The major drawback has been that almost all researchers have invoked in their analyses, concepts from linear infinitesimal elasticity to explain the intracranial PVR. In this paper we have proposed a more realistic hyperelastic model to explain the observed PVR of the intracranial complex. The proposed model provides a better approximation to the intracranial P-V response than those proposed by previous investigators. The model highlights also the parameters that are relevant to characterise the intracranial tissues.