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.

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 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.

An automatic injection apparatus uses non-continuous fluid-flow of drugs to identify an intended injection site and includes a drive mechanism, a sensor and a controller for establishing fluid flow and pressure and preventing fluid flow until the pressure drops below a predetermined threshold. The pressure threshold is determined based on an internal pressure generated during an injection and more fluid will not flow until it drops below a predetermined pressure. An injection is performed to establish an initial pressure threshold and then to stop the fluid flow into a patient until the pressure drops below a predetermined pressure which allows fluid flow to resume, thus identifying a fluid filled tissue space. The initial pressure threshold is used as a control parameter to a microprocessor below which controls the rate of injection. Fluid flows below certain pressures are also used to identify a specific location within the body during injections.

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.

This disclosure provides compositions, devices, systems, and methods that reduce the likelihood, amount, or level of cellular deposition (and associated blockage and/or failure) of implantable medical devices, such as central nervous system implants. Embodiments involve use of inhibitor(s) of one or more of TLR-4, TNF-, IL-1, or IL-6, for instance, to prevent, reduce, or reverse activation of astrocyte and/or glia cells, and/or to prevent, reduce, or reverse attachment of such cells to the surface of a medical device in contact with a biological fluid, such as cerebrospinal fluid.

A pressure sensing apparatus has a pressure sensor component that includes a pressure sensing port, a pressure sensor for sensing a pressure of a fluid in the pressure sensing port, and a digital processor communicating with the pressure sensor for performing calculations involving fluid pressures sensed. The pressure sensing apparatus further includes a first chamber in fluid contact with the pressure sensing port, a second chamber fluidically connectable with a patient's cerebrospinal fluid system, and a membrane located between the first and second chambers so as to transmit fluid pressure from the second chamber to the first chamber.

A disposable fluid flow assembly for operation in connection with a fluid pump configured to provide a flow of fluid to the disposable fluid flow assembly is provided. The disposable fluid flow assembly includes an elongated flexible tube, a needle hub connected with the flexible tube, a pressure sensor for sensing fluid pressure, and an identification circuit embedded connected with the pressure sensor. The identification is configured to provide a plurality of signals to the central controller of the fluid pump when the disposable needle assembly is connected with the fluid pump. The plurality of signals may include various signals, such as a signal to identify physical characteristics of the assembly, a signal to ensure that the assembly is authentic, a signal to ensure that the disposable assembly is not re-used, and/or a signal to ensure that the pressure signal is connected and operating properly.

The objective of the present invention to provide a method for accurately and safely specifying a leakage part of cerebrospinal fluid in a cerebrospinal fluid hypovolemia patient, and a method for effectively treating cerebrospinal fluid hypovolemia with utilizing the specifying method. The method for specifying a leakage part of cerebrospinal fluid in a cerebrospinal fluid hypovolemia patient according to the present invention is characterized in comprising the steps of injecting saline into a bone-marrow space of a spine of the cerebrospinal fluid hypovolemia patient, and detecting the cerebrospinal fluid or the injected saline leaked from a dura mater of the spine to specify the leakage part of the cerebrospinal fluid.