An externally programmable shunt valve assembly that includes a magnetic 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 in finite increments.

Filtering cassettes, filtering systems, and methods for using the same are disclosed. An example filtering cassette may include a cassette housing. An inlet may be coupled to the cassette housing. The inlet may be configured to receive cerebrospinal fluid from a catheter. An outlet may be coupled to the cassette housing. The outlet may be configured to direct filtered cerebrospinal fluid to the catheter. One or more filters may be disposed within the cassette housing. An arcuate surface may be defined along a periphery of the cassette housing. The arcuate surface may be configured to engage a controller assembly when the cassette housing is mounted to the controller assembly.

A method of managing cancer in a patient’s cerebrospinal fluid (“CSF”) forms a fluid circuit by fluidly communicating a set of catheters (“a catheter”) with the patient’s brain ventricle and the patient’s lumbar and, while controlling the flow rate of the CSF through the CSF fluid circuit, filters cancer cells from the CSF through the fluid circuit. The method also determines both a variable indicative of cancer cell concentration in the CSF, and at some point, that the variable has attained or passed through a threshold value (e.g., greater than a maximum threshold value or below a minimum threshold value). The method stops controlling the CSF flow rate in response to the variable attaining and/or passing through the threshold value. The CSF flow rate therefore preferably returns to a natural CSF flow rate of the patient after stopping control of the CSF flow rate. A system preferably performs these acts.

A surgical or laparoscopic method of creating and maintaining an opening in the thoracic diaphragm of a patient. The method comprising the steps of creating an incision in the thoracic diaphragm and thereby creating an opening in the thoracic diaphragm, placing a diaphragm passing part in said opening created in the thoracic diaphragm, passing from the abdomen through the thoracic diaphragm and into the thorax; wherein the step of placing said diaphragm passing part comprises placing a force transferring part of the diaphragm passing part in contact with the thoracic diaphragm, the force transferring part being adapted to transfer force between the abdominal side of the thoracic diaphragm and the thoracic side of the thoracic diaphragm while sliding against the thoracic diaphragm.

A control system and method for automatically adjusting the height of an external ventricular drain from a patient. The height of a pole supporting the bag into which the fluid is drained can be varied, increased or decreased, as driven by a motor. A drip chamber and collection bag that receive the fluid from the patient are attached to the height variable pole. An external fluid pressure tube is coupled to the patient at one end and to a pressure sensor at the other. The pressure sensor is coupled to the height variable pole. The system includes a feedback loop that adjusts the height of the external ventricular drain (EVD) to match the height of the patient's head. As the patient's head moves up or down, the variable height pole moves up and down a corresponding distance to maintain the patient's intracranial or intraspinal pressure, and therefore the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage rate, at a preset value.

A filtering device for removing particles from a fluid of a patient is provided. The filtering device being implantable in the patient's body and comprising a cassette comprising a revolving member, said revolving member having at least two segments each holding a respective filter. The device further comprises a tube forming a fluid passageway through one of the filters in said cassette, wherein the cassette is adapted to, upon revolution of the revolving cylinder, change the filter positioned in the fluid passageway from a first one of said filters to a second one of said filters, thereby allowing particles present on the first filter to be moved away from the fluid passageway, while at the same time changing the filter positioned in the fluid passageway.

A minimally invasive system for monitoring and treating high intracranial pressure levels resulting from traumatic brain injury comprises an intravenous access device, an elongate member, a console, and an aspiration and injection catheter. The system is capable of monitoring pressure levels and relocating fluid from the brain to another part of the patient's body to sustain overall constant fluid volume. The method of using the minimally invasive system is also described.

A blood clot removal method for removing blood clots from the vascular system of a patient, the blood clot removal method carried out on an implantable device in the patient's body and comprising: allowing a blood flow through a passageway between a first side wall and a second side wall, filtering blood clots with a filter provided in the blood flow passageway, and cleaning the filter with a cleaning device, wherein the cleaning device is moved from the first side wall towards the second side wall to move blood clots away from the blood flow passageway.

An externally programmable shunt valve assembly that includes a magnetic 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 in finite increments.

A nephroureteral catheter is provided that comprises a detachable portion such that when the detachable portion is removed, the catheter converts into an internal stent. The catheter includes a tube with two retention features, a detachable portion, and an inner tube. The inner tube is removably insertable into both the tube and the detachable portion, and a wire extends through at least a portion of a lumen of the inner tube and through the tube, to keep the pieces attached. The wire may be removed to remove the inner tube and then the detachable portion from the tube. When the detachable portion is attached to the tube, the catheter is a nephroureteral catheter. When the detachable portion is removed from the tube, the catheter becomes a stent.