A method of delivering a therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent to tissue is provided including the steps of inserting a catheter into a bodily cavity, the catheter having a proximal balloon and a distal balloon, inflating the proximal and distal balloons to create a chamber between the proximal and distal balloons, delivering the therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent to the chamber, measuring fluid pressure in the chamber, measuring at least one fluid dynamic characteristic of a subject, and adjusting the delivery of the therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent based at least in part on the measured volumetric pressure in the chamber and the at least one fluid dynamic characteristic of the subject.

An externally programmable shunt valve assembly that includes a motor having a rotor that is operable in response to an externally applied magnetic field and configured to increase or decrease the working pressure of the shunt valve assembly. The motor may further include a position sensing mechanism that allows a position of the rotor, and associated pressure setting of the valve, to be determined using an external magnetic sensor. In certain examples the motor further includes a mechanical brake that is magnetically operable between a locked position and an unlocked position and which, in the locked position, prevents rotation of the rotor.

The present invention provides an energy emission device comprising: one or a plurality of energy emitters for emitting at least one type of energy selected from the group consisting of an electromagnetic wave or an electromagnetic stimulation, an elastic wave, an oscillatory wave and heat to at least one position of a subject selected from the group consisting of the brain, the spinal cord, the cerebrospinal fluid or the flow passage thereof and the brain cell interstitial fluid or the flow passage thereof; an energy controller for controlling an amount of energy emitted from the energy emitters; and a sensor for obtaining information relating to wakefulness and/or a sleeping state of the subject, in which the energy controller controls the amount of energy emitted depending on the information relating to the wakefulness and/or the sleeping state.

Disclosed is a valve assembly operable to selectively control a flow or passage of a fluid. The valve assembly may be applied to any appropriate mechanism such as a hydrocephalus shunt, fluid draining sewage system, or tank holding system. The valve assembly disclosed may include a selected profile for various applications.

A computer based method and system forms measurements of brain function and predictions of a likelihood for memory impairment via the use of cameras, including a near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopic device and a camera capturing images in the Red-Green-Blue (RGB) spectrum. The device acquires from a subject measurements of ions, molecules, or combinations thereof at more than one moment in time, as well as amplitude and timing of blood pulsations. Based on the measured molecule or ion concentration, flow, and so forth, a processor assesses the probability of a neuron to form an action potential. Formation of an action potential increases the probability that the subject individual will create a memory.

A bio-pressure sensor system is disclosed, comprising a first sensor configured to provide a reference pressure measurement and second sensor configured to measure a fluid pressure within a human body. The bio-pressure sensor system also comprises a first reference element and second reference element. The first and second sensors share the first reference element. The second reference element is coupled to the first sensor and configured to provide a reference pressure. The first and second sensors each comprise independent output signals.

Fully-passive sensor systems that receive an input electromagnetic signal and return an output electromagnetic signal are described. The sensor systems can be used to measure pressure in biological or non-biological systems.

A dependent closed pressure vessel is fluidly coupled to an independent closed pressure vessel. A pressure sensor monitors pressure in the vessels to generate raw pressure measurement data. A flow meter monitors multidirectional rate of flow of fluid between the vessels and the volume of fluid flowing from the independent closed pressure vessel to generate raw rate of flow and raw volume measurement data. A pressure/flow regulator valve adjusts pressure in the dependent closed pressure vessel in response to a pressure set point signal generated in response to the raw pressure data, adjusts the rate of flow of fluid between the vessels in response to a rate of flow set point signal generated in response to the raw rate of flow data, and adjusts the rate of flow of fluid between the vessels in response to a volume set point signal generated in response to the raw volume data.

An apparatus for detecting the presence of pathogens in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the central nervous system (CNS) includes a digital computer, a speaker unit and a microphone unit. The digital computer is programmed with generally available software which is capable of generating a spectrum of sound and receiving microphone data. The software is able to receive microphone signals and represent resulting data in graphical form showing sound intensity in dB as a function of frequency in kHz. An operator places the speaker and the microphone on the subject's body so that sound travels through at least a portion of the CNS, runs the software, and collects the resulting sound propagation data. If the propagation of sound through the CNS is indicative of altered CSF or CNS, then a disease state is suspected.

Drug delivery systems and methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a drug delivery system can be configured to deliver a drug to a patient in coordination with a physiological parameter of the patient (e.g., the patient's natural cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pulsation or the patient's heart or respiration rate). In some embodiments, a drug delivery system can be configured to use a combination of infusion and aspiration to control delivery of a drug to a patient. Catheters, controllers, and other components for use in the above systems are also disclosed, as are various methods of using such systems.