Methods, devices, systems, and/or kits that encompass various components for accessing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in a CSF containing space of a subject to drain the CSF into a dural venous sinus (DVS) of the subject via a single cranial hole are disclosed herein. The described methods, devices, systems and/or kits drain the CSF into the DVS to treat hydrocephalus in a manner that does not require penetration into the gray matter of the subject’s brain.

The disclosure provides example shunt apparatus and methods for deploying the apparatus. The apparatus includes (a) an inner catheter having first and second ends, where the inner catheter has a plurality of fenestrations extending along a portion of the inner catheter, (b) an outer catheter, where the inner catheter is positioned at least partially within a lumen of the outer catheter, (c) a deployment wire moveably arranged in a lumen of a conduit that is coupled to the outer catheter, and (d) a mesh arranged surrounding at least the first end of the inner catheter, where the mesh has a first end coupled to the inner catheter and the mesh has a second end coupled to the deployment wire, where the mesh is configured to move between a first position in an unexpanded condition having the form of a sheath to a second position in an expanded condition.

In some aspects, catheter devices can include: a reinforcing member having a proximal and distal ends, the reinforcing member comprising: discrete longitudinally arranged structural regions between the proximal and distal ends comprising: a first, proximal, structural region defining a first series of wall perforations that generate structural properties within the first structural region, the first series of wall perforations setting a first stiffness of the first structural region; and a second structural region, disposed distally relative to the first structural region, defining a second series of wall perforations that generate structural properties within the second structural region, the second series of wall perforations setting a second stiffness of the second structural region, which is less than the first stiffness, wherein the second series of wall perforations differs from the first series of wall perforations by at least one of: cut balance, cut frequency, or pitch.

A cerebrospinal fluid drainage system for ventricular draining includes an EVD or VPS probe comprising a flexible tube and a stylus comprising a rigid tube configured to be inserted into the flexible tube. The stylus includes an ultrasound transducer at a distal end of the rigid tube. The rigid tube contains only one or more wires coupled with the ultrasound transducer and does not contain an optical fiber. The ultrasound transducer has an imaging depth extending along an axis of the rigid tube. The distal end of the flexible tube is closed by a deformable tip. The stylus can be temporarily secured to the flexible tube. The system further includes an echograph comprising a screen for displaying an anatomical image calculated in B-mode as a function of signals supplied by the ultrasound transducer.

A burr hole device is configured to receive a catheter and a cable of a sheath. The sheath is configured to receive a portion of the catheter and has an electrode. When the catheter and sheath are implanted with the burr hole device, the catheter and electrode of the sheath are implanted in a brain. Systems and apparatuses may include the burr hole device and/or a cranial port device, the catheter, and the sheath.

Intrathecal drug delivery pumps can aspirate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) when the drug reservoir is empty or at other times to maintain a continuous or cyclic fluid flow through the pump and the delivery catheter. This addresses the potential need for continuous infusion to maintain an un-occluded fluid pathway to the intrathecal space by providing an “active port” that aspirates and expels CSF to keep fluid flow going without infusing a drug or requiring saline to fill the pump. If drug refill visits are missed, CSF could be used to keep the pump mechanism functional rather than having it run dry requiring replacement or requiring saline injections to keep the pump mechanism functioning. In addition, by having the pump aspirate CSF into the body of the pump, it would be possible to monitor biomarkers using systems in the fluid pathway and pressure differences for possible issues related to CSF management.

A ventricular shunt assembly, used in conjunction with a hyperbaric environment (e.g., having a pressure of about 250 to about 350 mm H.sub.2O above atmospheric pressure) can be used to correct a patient's intraparenchymal venous pressure from a sub-normally low value to a normal value. The shunt may comprise a valve, e.g., and adjustable valve, disposed between the ventricular catheter and the distal catheter. Optionally, the shunt comprises a reservoir on the ventricular side of the valve.

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 system and related method are provided for draining cerebrospinal fluid from a bodily cavity of a patient, such as a ventricle in the brain in one application. The system includes a reservoir which may be a collapsible container configured for fluidic connection to a shunt located in the bodily cavity. The collapsible container may be an elastically deformable bladder in one embodiment. A pump is fluidly connected to the collapsible container and draws cerebrospinal fluid therefrom. A programmable controller directs the pump to repeatedly activate and deactivate at a predetermined time interval. A plurality of sensors may be provided which are communicably coupled to the controller for monitoring pump motor current draw, tension in the resilient body of the container, pressure, and orientation of the patient. The controller is configurable to deactivate the pump when abnormal operating conditions are detected by the sensors.

A shunt system used to treat excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) accumulation is described. In some embodiments, the system utilizes various mechanical, electrical, or electromechanical concepts designed to either clean a portion of the shunt system, or customize CSF drainage.