Systems and methods for implanting a shunt for regulating blood pressure between a patient's left and right atria are provided. The shunt comprises an anchor having a neck region, first and second end regions, and a conduit affixed with the anchor formed of a biocompatible material that is resistant to transmural and translation tissue ingrowth and that reduces a risk of paradoxical embolism. The shunt may be advanced through the sheath until the first region protrudes from the sheath and self-expands within the left atrium. The shunt and the sheath may then be retracted until the first region contacts the left side of the atrial septum. The sheath may further be retracted until the counterforce exerted by shunt tension on the atrial septum overcomes the friction of the retained portions of the shunt such that the second region is exposed from the sheath and self-expands within the second atrium.

A catheter package includes an elongated case. A cap is attached to the case by a flexible strap. The case receives the tubing portion of a catheter. The catheter has a funnel attached to the tubing. The funnel has a seal portion releasably engageable with the case. The cap is releasably engageable with the funnel to retain the funnel in contact with the case. A user can flip the cap off the funnel to permit removal of the catheter from the case. The funnel may include ridges or a tactile ring to improve the user's grip on the funnel. An adaptor may be disposed between the funnel and case to allow mating of different cross sectional shapes of the funnel and case. A hydration device may be inserted in the case. Alternately, a tubular liner may be inserted in the case to separate liquid water on the outside of the liner from the catheter tubing on the inside of the liner. A window in the liner mounts a patch of filter material that permits the passage of water vapor into the interior of the liner.

A catheter package includes an elongated case. A cap is attached to the case by a flexible strap. The case receives the tubing portion of a catheter. The catheter has a funnel attached to the tubing. The funnel has a seal portion releasably engageable with the case. The cap is releasably engageable with the funnel to retain the funnel in contact with the case. A user can flip the cap off the funnel to permit removal of the catheter from the case. The funnel may include ridges or a tactile ring to improve the user's grip on the funnel. An adaptor may be disposed between the funnel and case to allow mating of different cross sectional shapes of the funnel and case. A hydration device may be inserted in the case. Alternately, a tubular liner may be inserted in the case to separate liquid water on the outside of the liner from the catheter tubing on the inside of the liner. A window in the liner mounts a patch of filter material that permits the passage of water vapor into the interior of the liner.

An apparatus for delivery of a device into a hollow organ and a method of delivery are provided. The apparatus includes an elongated tube having proximal and distal openings and being configured for carrying the device on a distal portion thereof. The apparatus further includes a tubular cover for covering at least a portion of the device when mounted on the elongated tube, the tubular cover being radially elastic and axially non-elastic. The tubular cover is retrievable into the elongated tube through the distal opening, such that when the device is mounted on the elongated tube and covered by the tubular cover, retrieval of the tubular cover into the elongated tube uncovers the device for delivery into the hollow organ.

Drainage devices and microactuator systems adapted to be incorporated into drainage devices to provide a self-clearing capability for reducing obstructions in the drainage devices and/or a self-monitoring capability to confirm the overall operating condition of the drainage devices and their microactuators. Such a microactuator system includes a microactuator having a base, a cantilever comprising a flexure extending from the base and a plate structure at a distal end of the flexure, a sensing element on the flexure for sensing deflection of the cantilever, and a device for inducing an oscillating deflection of the cantilever relative to the base.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage systems. A system includes a conduit having a proximal end and a distal end. The conduit receives the CSF from a patient from the proximal end. The system includes a collection chamber coupled to the distal end. The collection chamber collects the CSF. The system includes a valve positioned on the conduit. The valve controls CSF flow into the collection chamber. The system includes a camera that captures an image of the CSF within the collection chamber. The system includes a processor coupled to the camera. The processor measures a flow rate of the CSF based on the image and controls the first valve to open for a first predetermined period and close for a second predetermined period until a determination of a predetermined amount of the CSF being drained from the patient is made by the processor based on the flow rate.

A shunt device for shunting cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a CSF containing space to a sinus system cavity comprises a tubular inlet element, a flow restricting part, and a tubular outlet element having an outlet end with an outlet opening for insertion in the sinus system cavity, and a one-way valve preventing flow in a direction from the outlet opening to the inlet opening. The shunt device further comprises a distancer, said distancer being provided at the outlet end of the tubular outlet element.

A reduced-pressure treatment system for debriding a treatment area of a tissue site and applying reduced pressure is disclosed. The reduced-pressure treatment system includes a hydrogel having a blocked acid debriding agent. The hydrogel is adapted to cover the treatment area and enhance autolytic debridement at the treatment area. The reduced-pressure treatment system includes a manifold that is adapted to cover the hydrogel and distribute reduced pressure to the tissue site. The reduce-pressure treatment system also includes a sealing drape for forming a fluid seal over the tissue site and manifold. Other systems, methods, and dressings are presented.

Systems and methods for filtering materials from biologic fluids are discussed. Embodiments may be used to filter cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a human or animal subject. In an example, CSF is separated into a permeate and retentate using a tangential flow filter. The retentate is filtered again and then returned to the subject with the permeate. During operation of the system, various parameters may be modified, such as flow rate and waste rate.

An apparatus for performing cerebral micro-dialysis to treat neurological disease of a patient's brain includes a catheter for implantation in or near the patient's brain, an implantable pump communicated with the catheter to transport cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the patient, which CSF contains diseased cells or biomolecules associated with the neurological disease, and an implantable separation device communicated with the pump wherein the diseased cells or biomolecules are removed, where the separation apparatus includes a dialysis membrane impregnated with an antibody, a reversible electrostatic filter, and/or a magnetic field effect fractionation chamber wherein a magnetically-tagged antibody scavenges and aids in the removal of circulating diseased cells or biomolecules from the CSF.