Determination of Levels of Cerebrospinal fluid using Mobile Camera-A Phantom Study

Abstract

Brain is the most delicate organ in human body. This organ is being protected from shocks by the presence of Cerebrospinal Fluid. In case of any head injury the levels of CSF increases. To perform surgery in the injured head, the fluid must be drained. To measure the level of CSF a mobile camera based system was made. Using this system we measured the different levels of milk, water and lemon water which was used to mimic CSF. These samples were selected by comparing the density of CSF to the density of milk, water and lemon water. Measured amount of fluid were placed in a solid container. Images were taken by varying the level of fluid from 0.2cm to 1cm in steps of 2mm. The average pixel intensity for milk phantom was calculated from the image and it is found to be proportional till the distance between the camera and the base was 4.6cm and independent thereafter. So this can be used to determine the level of CSF where sophisticated instruments are not available.