Endovascular drug delivery systems and methods are disclosed herein for delivering a therapeutic agent to the intracranial subarachnoid space of a patient, and/or deploying an endovascular drug delivery device distal portion in the intracranial subarachnoid space and a portion of the drug delivery device body in a dural venous sinus such that a therapeutic agent is delivered from the deployed drug delivery device into the intracranial subarachnoid space.

Embodiments of assemblies used for bending spinal needles and method for producing bent spinal needles used in medical procedures are disclosed. In one embodiment, a straight needle is placed in position for a fulcrum to apply pressure onto a designated spot on the needle and apply a bending pressure to bend the needle while the needle is supported at both ends. A barrier wall is configured to limit the movement of the needle resulting from the bending force to prevent overbending of the needle. In two other embodiments, a dual angle bending member enables selecting the bending angle desired by the user to be applied onto the needle. The angle of the bent needle is considerably reduced due to metal relaxation; however, the angle reduction is predictable and is taken into account in calculating the target bending angle.

The present invention provides a tool and method for performing a lumbar puncture. The tool may include a first arm and a second arm and may form a T-shape. The first arm may be longer than the second arm. Also included is a projection extending from one of the arms. The projection has a downward angle and a passageway that is sized to accommodate a needle. The tool is configured to maintain the perpendicular placement of a needle between vertebrae and a preferred angle of insertion of about 15° during a procedure.

Tactile sensing devices, systems, and methods to image a target tissue location are disclosed. When force is applied onto a tissue surface using the tactile sensing device, sensors of a sensor array output voltage signals to a computing device and display screen operatively connected to the sensor array. The sensor array relays its output voltage signals to the computing device, the computing device processes the output voltage signals, and an image of the output voltage signals is visualized on the display screen to help identify a target tissue insertion site.

Delivery devices, systems, and methods related thereto may be used on patients for spinal delivery of cells, drugs, or vectors. The patient population may include patients with spinal traumatic injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, spinal ischemia, and other spinal neurodegenerative disorder that will require spinal cell, vector, or drug delivery.

This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods for robotically assisted implantation of an implant in a patient. A system includes an implant-positioning unit configured to engage an elongate member of the implant, and a control console communicatively coupled to the positioning unit. The control console may have a user interface that enables a user to input motion control instructions. The control console may generate a motion control signal, according to a specific motion control instruction, to control the external positioning unit to propel the implant into a target implant site, path or shape. The system may be used to robotically control the delivery and positing of a neuromodulating implant during a spinal stimulator implantation or deep brain stimulator implantation surgery.

Systems, devices, and methods for performing minimally invasive spinal procedures are described herein. The systems, devices, and methods may be used to percutaneously access the spinal canal and perform a spinal procedure in multiple locations along the canal, e.g., bilaterally and/or at multiple levels from a single access point. The systems and devices may integrate various instruments for performing the procedures, thus improving their ease of use, reducing procedural complexity, and minimizing procedure time.

Assemblies and methods provide for implantation of multiple medical leads to a defined space within the body, such as the epidural space, through a single entry. A catheter having multiple lumens or alternatively a single oblong lumen may be used. A distal end of the catheter enters the defined space through the single entry such that the distal ends of the multiple lumens or the oblong lumen are present in the defined space. Medical leads are introduced through the multiple lumens or the oblong lumen into the defined space. In some cases, the distal end of the catheter may be deflectable to direct the medical leads within the defined space. In other cases, sheaths may be present within each lumen of the catheter where the sheaths may be extended into the defined space and deflect to direct the medical leads that are being passed through a lumen of the sheaths.

An injection includes a tube having opposite first and second ends. A hub is coupled to the first end. A sheath is coupled to the tube and the hub. The hub is movable relative to the tube to move the sheath between a first orientation in which the sheath covers an orifice in the second end and a second orientation in which the sheath is spaced apart from the orifice. Kits and methods of use are disclosed.

A needle is provided that has terminals located at or near its tip. The terminals are connectable to an impedance calculating circuit configured to enable the impedance calculating circuit to apply an alternating current input electrical signal to the terminals. The terminals are further configured to enable the impedance calculating circuit to measure a resultant electrical signal and calculate an impedance of biological tissue surrounding the tip. The needle may further include light transmitting media, that extends along the needle, and that is connectable to a light circuit. The light circuit may include an emitter/detector pair for transmitting light from the emitter, along the media, and emitting the light from the tip. A reflection of the emitted light may be transmitted from the tip to the detector and the light circuit may calculate the light absorption of the tissue.