Using magnets to treat babies and kids with hydrocephalus sounds like something from a science-fiction movie, but it’s happening here at CHOC.
Hydrocephalus (or water on the brain) is a condition where there is a lack of absorption, blockage of flow, or overproduction of the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) that surrounds the brain. This can lead to dangerous buildup of fluid, increasing pressure inside of the head.
Some hydrocephalus patients need surgery, which usually involves placing a shunt into the child’s head to help drain the extra fluid from around the brain.
CHOC neurosurgeon Michael Muhonen, MD, was a primary investigator for clinical trials of Medtronic’s Strata Valve—part of a shunt system now being used worldwide to treat hydrocephalus.
Once surgically implanted in the brain, the settings on adjustable valves like Strata can be easily customized as the patient grows and changes. Dr. Muhonen uses a special magnet to change pressure settings in the shunt from outside the head. It’s noninvasive and totally pain-free.
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Learn more about CHOC’s Neuroscience Institute
CHOC Hospital was named one of the nation’s best children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report in its 2024-25 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings and ranked in the neurology and neuroscience specialties.
