The Physics of Cerebrovascular Diseases: Biophysical Mechanisms of Development, Diagnosis and Therapy

Disease of the blood vessels of the brain currently ranks among the leading causes of death in western countries and leads to significan problems in health care. The neurological effects of non-fatal strokes can be devastating. Modern treatment methods, however, can significantly alleviate these. The improvements have been developed from an understanding of the biophysical basis of blod flow in the brain. This textbook provides a review of our current understanding of the physical phenomena associated with the flow of blood through the brain and applies these concepts to the physiological and medical aspects of cerebrovascular disease in a way that will be useful to both the scientist and the clinician. Specifically it discusses: - the physical bases for the development of cerebrovascular disease and for its clinical consequences - specific current and possible future therapies - experimental, clinical, and computational techniques used to investigate cerebrovascualr disease - blood dynamics and its role - imaging methods used in the diagnosis and management of cerebrovascualr disease. Intended for a one- or two-semester course in biophysics, biomedical engineering or medical physics, the book will also be of interest to medical students and interns in neurology and cardiology and will provide a useful overview of current practice for researchers and clinicians. A volume in the AIP International Series in Basic and Applied