A levelling device for positioning of a medical device in relation to a patient is disclosed. The levelling device comprises a tube having fluid communication between a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured for connection to the medical device and the second end is configured for connection to the patient. The levelling device comprises a control unit connected to a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to transmit sensor data to the control unit which is indicative of a pressure difference between the first and second end of the tube, and an actuator connected to the control unit, wherein the actuator is configured to connect to the medical device and to arrange a position of the medical device in relation to the patient in dependence on said pressure difference.

A magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging method and device. The method comprises: applying a set pulse sequence into an imaging region, wherein the set pulse sequence comprises, in chronological order, a Delay Alternating with Nutation for Tailored Excitation (DANTE) pulse train, a variable flip angle train of a three-dimensional fast spin echo (SPACE), and a flip-down pulse train (S110); acquiring a magnetic resonance signal generated in the imaging region, and reconstructing a magnetic resonance images of the vessel wall in the imaging region according to the magnetic resonance signal (S120). By adding the flip-down pulse train behind the variable flip angle train of the three-dimensional fast spin echo (SPACE), the cerebrospinal fluid signals of the whole brain can be further suppressed effectively and uniformly, and the DANTE pulse train promotes the vessel wall imaging of the head and neck jointing portion.

Assemblies and methods for modifying an intraocular pressure of a patient's one or both eyes are disclosed. The assemblies and methods can be used to treat, inhibit, or prevent ocular conditions such as glaucoma, high intraocular pressure, optic disc edema, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, zero-gravity induced papilledema, and other optic pressure related conditions. An assembly can include a goggle including at least one cavity, a pump in fluid communication with the at least one cavity, and a control mechanism. The control mechanism can be operatively coupled to the pump and can maintain a target pressure or target pressure range in the at least one cavity, which, when the assembly is worn by a patient, is the area between a patient's eye(s) and wall surfaces of the goggle. Controlling the pressure over the outer surfaces of the patient's eye(s) can drive a desired change in the intraocular pressure of the eye(s).

An apparatus for measuring pressure of fluid in a shunt includes a distensible member arranged adjacent to a graduated scale. The shunt includes a shunt valve and the apparatus is attachable to, or incorporated into the shunt at a location either at the shunt valve or upstream of the shunt valve. Both the distensible member and the scale include radiopaque markers. The fluid in the shunt acts directly on the distensible member and the distensible member is distensible in the direction of the scale.

A thin-film, diaphragm based device is disclosed which can be used to perform an array of sensing and actuating operations where a very thin profile is desired, such as in millimeter, micrometer, or nanometer tight spaces.

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.

A method and apparatus are provided for use in locating a target region which is situated in the body of a subject, for example for the delivery of drugs. The system includes an assembly for controlling the flow of fluid from a fluid reservoir to a conduit, such as a needle. A sensor detects a characteristic indicative of the fluid pressure in the conduit. The system processes data from the sensor to detect the presence of a pulsatile waveform. A controller may control further operation of the system based on information regarding the presence of the pulsatile waveform and features of the waveform, such as amplitude.

An external stylus provides an impulse to correct mal-alignments of the Atlas (C1). The placement and direction of the impulse is guided by the analysis of a plurality precisely placed or acquired tomographic images, preferably MRI images.

An apparatus and method that utilizes thermal dilution to detect a wide range of flow rates and/or flow status in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt systems. The use of a large cold source in combination with thermosensor pad of a particular construction provide a fluid flow analyzer with the ability to detect very low levels of CSF flow. In addition, a method for adjusting thermal dilution readings to compensate for varying shunt catheter depth is shown and for determining a steady state of the thermal dilution readings. The thermosensor pad is conformable to a patient's skin contour thereby making the apparatus and method less sensitive to ambient temperature errors and, as a result, more accurate in assessing CSF flow. Furthermore, a software error check is provided for identifying poor sensor-to-skin contact for alerting an operator to re-apply the thermosensor pad to correct, as well as a post-test check to determine if temperature data is reasonable before determining flow status or flow rate.

A system and method for accessing and treating the cerebrospinal fluid with a multilumen catheter configured for placement along a cerebrospinal fluid pathway and a subcutaneous, dual reservoir/pump. The subcutaneous dual reservoir/pump allows simultaneous, bidirectional cerebrospinal fluid access and cerebrospinal fluid exchange. The two chambers prevent mixing of newly treated and discardable cerebrospinal fluid. The subcutaneous dual reservoir/pump can be used inline with other cerebrospinal fluid devices. The catheter may be coupled with a medical probe that sends a wire to a computational device, which can then send wireless data and receive wireless instructions. A method of assessing cerebrospinal fluid infections is provided, whereby monitoring of the cerebrospinal glucose concentrations with a cerebrospinal glucose sensor and analysis of the data by a computational device can notify a patient or medical provider of an impending infection. This assembly can help better diagnose and treat injury and disease.