A device suitable for guiding a trajectory of a surgical shunt or needle comprising two protractors on a curved frame configured to fit over, or attach to, the skull of a patient, wherein the two protractors are respectively oriented in a circular dimension and anterior-posterior/medio-lateral directions. A method for using the device to guide a surgical needle, probe, shunt or other instrument during surgery.

A cranial implant for access to a cerebral cortex includes a window member shaped and dimensioned for positioning within a dural defect to provide access through the dura such that access to the cerebral cortex is provided in a location under study. An implant body is provided having a geometry that substantially conforms to a resected portion of a patient's anatomy to which the implant body is to be secured.

A trajectory guiding apparatus and one or more methods associated therewith for facilitating precision-guided alignment and implantation of a DBS therapy device in a patient. A pivotally rotatable stage is pivotally coupled to a base support and a vertical support operative to support a slider assembly arranged to accommodate an instrumentation column (IC) containing the therapy device. A first gimbal drive is disposed between the pivotally rotatable stage and the base support, wherein the first gimbal drive is actuatable to cause a first pivotal motion of the slider assembly including the IC, the first pivotal motion defined along a first arcuate path pivoted around a first pivotal axis. A second gimbal drive is disposed between the pivotally rotatable stage and the vertical support, wherein the second gimbal drive is actuatable to cause a second pivotal motion of the slider assembly including the IC, the second pivotal motion defined along a second arcuate path pivoted around a second pivotal axis perpendicular to the first pivotal axis.

An intracranial prosthesis comprised of a flat body having an interior ultrasound-compatible window and a ring having a plurality of access ports about the outer portion capable of engaging a plurality of diagnostic instruments and/or intracranial delivery systems so that a practicing medical professional can monitor certain parameters of a patient or deliver therapeutic agents to the patient while using an ultrasound-monitoring device to image the patient's brain. The prosthesis is designed to allow for the continuous, uninterrupted, simultaneous monitoring of a number of parameters of a patient's brain at the patient's bedside.

A burr hole cover is provided that is constructed to be positioned within a recessed region formed on a patient's skull in order to conceal a burr hole. The burr hole cover may be affixed to the patient's skull in the recessed region. For instance, surgical fastening devices may be inserted through apertures defined in the burr hole cover. The burr hole cover may have a thickness and curvature that enables it to be substantially flush with the surface of the skull when affixed in the recessed region. The burr hole cover's curvature follows the contour of the patient's skull. The burr hole cover may include one or more perforations sized to allow air (or moisture) to flow towards the burr hole, which promotes skin/bone growth. Some of the perforations may be large enough to permit access to the brain with leads and/or drainage devices.

Neurosurgical apparatus has a guidance device having a guide tube and a neurosurgical instrument for insertion into the guide tube. The inner surface of the guide tube is arranged, for example profiled, to at least partially engage the outer surface of the neurosurgical instrument when inserted therein. The guide tube thus guides the neurosurgical instrument along a predefined path through the guide tube. At least one of the guidance device and the outer surface of the neurosurgical instrument are configured to provide a fluid return path for carrying any fluid displaced from within the guide tube during insertion of the neurosurgical instrument into the guide tube. A seal may also be provided for sealing the fluid return path.

A cranial anchor system configured to attach to an opening in a cranium includes an anchor member. The anchor member has a middle anchor portion and a lower anchor portion coupled to and disposed in a downward direction relative to the middle anchor portion. The lower anchor portion has a plurality of contact members, each of which have a leg that extends at least partially in the downward direction, a tab connected to the leg, and a rib disposed between the leg and the tab. The system further includes an outer sheath and an inner sheath disposed within the outer sheath and slidable relative to the outer sheath.

A cranial anchor system configured to attach to an opening in a cranium includes an anchor member. The anchor member has a middle anchor portion and a lower anchor portion coupled to and disposed in a downward direction relative to the middle anchor portion. The lower anchor portion has a plurality of contact members, each of which have a leg that extends at least partially in the downward direction, a tab connected to the leg, and a rib disposed between the leg and the tab. The system further includes an outer sheath and an inner sheath disposed within the outer sheath and slidable relative to the outer sheath.

A system and method are provided for a guide system for guiding an interventional medical instrument toward a region of interest (ROI) along a predetermined trajectory path. The guide system comprises a base, an adjustment ring, and a plurality of guide blocks. The adjustment ring is configured to be selectively fixed in one of a plurality of rotational orientations with respect to the base. The plurality of guide blocks are each configured to be selectively fixed in one of a plurality of rotational orientations with respect to the adjustment ring and each include a guide hole. Each of the plurality of guide blocks include at least one of differing angles of trajectory or differing locations of the guide hole from others of the plurality of guide blocks to provide a selectable, predetermined location of the guide hole and angle of trajectory.

A delicate tissue retraction system for use with a navigation probe having a probe shaft and a probe tip at a distal end of the probe shaft. The delicate tissue retraction system includes a retractor and an introducer that is removably installed within the retractor. The introducer has a wall forming a hollow channel extending from a proximal introducer end to a distal introducer end. A mount is integrally formed with the introducer and extends from the distal introducer end into the channel. The mount is positioned to surround the probe tip when the navigation probe is at a fully inserted position within the introducer with the probe tip at the distal introducer end.