The present invention provides a novel shunt device and methods of use, and in particular a cerebral shunt device. The cerebral shunt device includes an outer tube member forming a first lumen, the outer tube member having a drainage outlet and at least one opening to the first lumen in a distal region along the length of the outer tube member. The shunt also includes an inner tube member forming a second lumen, the inner tube member having at least one opening to the second lumen along the length of the inner tube member. The inner tube member is positioned within the first lumen and a pump unit fluidly connected to the second lumen to force fluid from the first lumen, which clears obstructions in the shunt.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and other fluid amelioration systems completely or partially implantable within a mammalian subject and associated methods include a substrate and an agent for amelioration of a toxic biomolecule present in the CSF or fluid, wherein the agent is disposed on or within the substrate.

A CSF management method and/or apparatus is used with a patient forms a CSF circuit having at least one pump and catheter. The CSF circuit is configured to control the flow of CSF in the patient's body. The method then flows, using the pump and the catheter, the patient's CSF at a given flow rate through the CSF circuit, and monitors, using a pressure sensor, the intracranial pressure in the craniospinal compartment of the patient when flowing CSF through the CSF circuit. For safety purposes, the method controls the given flow rate of the CSF in the CSF circuit as a function of the monitored intracranial pressure in the craniospinal compartment.

A suction catheter system is described with a suction extension interfaced with a guide catheter to form a continuous suction lumen extending through a portion of the guide catheter and through the suction extension. The suction extension can be positioned by tracking the suction nozzle through a vessel while moving a proximal portion of the suction extension within the lumen of the guide catheter. The suction extension can comprise a connecting section with a non-circular cross section for interfacing with the inner lumen of an engagement section of the guide catheter. The tubular body of the guide catheter can have a reduced diameter distal section the can be useful to restrain the movement of the suction extension. Proximal fittings attached to the guide catheter can facilitate safe removal of the catheter system from the patient by allowing for the removal of some or all of a tubular extension of the suction extension from the guide catheter behind a hemostatic seal. Pressure sensors connected to the proximal fittings can help to guide the procedures with reduced risk of embolizing thrombus.

A bi-stable popper valve and a device for detecting blockage in a flow of a fluid are provided. The valve includes a membrane supporting two conformations: in a first conformation the membrane is convex in relation the upstream fluid, and in a second conformation the membrane can be concave in relation to the upstream fluid, such that in the first conformation the flow of the fluid through the membrane is prevented and in the second conformation the flow of the fluid through the membrane is permitted through a pore defined by the membrane in only the second conformation. The membrane changes from the first conformation to the second responsive to a pressure of the fluid meeting or exceeding an opening pressure value of the membrane. A sensor can detect a shift from the first conformation to the second conformation, indicating a flow, or absence of flow, of the fluid.

The invention relates to an implantable valve (1) for a drainage system for discharging cerebrospinal fluid, comprising: a valve housing (10) extending along a valve axis (A), an inlet (2) and an outlet (3) as well as a valve housing (10) surrounding an interior space (4), a valve body assembly (600) arranged in the interior (4) and movably arranged in the interior space (4), a first valve seat (5), wherein the valve body assembly (600) is configured to abut the first valve seat (5) to close a flow connection between the inlet (2) and the interior space (4) of the valve housing (10), a second valve seat (7) which faces the first valve seat (5), wherein the valve body assembly (600) is configured to abut the second valve seat (7) to close a flow connection between the outlet (3) and the interior space (4) of the valve housing (10), and a spring device (800) arranged in the interior space (4) which exerts a spring force on the valve body assembly (600) in the direction of the first valve seat (5).

A catheter system includes abase plate having a bottom surface, an outer circumferential wall, a circular flange extending inwardly from the outer circumferential wall, and an inner ring that is spaced apart from the outer circumferential wall, extends upwardly from the bottom surface, and defines a central opening in the base plate. A catheter is placed within the central opening of the base plate. A cover is placed over and secured to the base plate. The cover has a closed upper portion defining an internal chamber of the cover and a lower portion defining an opening in the cover. The lower portion includes a skirt with a flange extending outwardly around a periphery of the skirt to engage the circular flange of the base plate and form a closed reservoir. Methods of accessing cerebrospinal fluid using the catheter systems are also provided.

Provided are body fluid management systems for patient care that include, in operable combination, a control system assembly comprising a fluid flow detection and control subassembly, a user data interface, a patient interface assembly comprising a wearable pressure sensor subassembly having a pressure sensor in the path of said body fluid for attaching directly to a patient proximate to an anatomical marker and an orientation sensor to monitor and/or control the pressure and/or flowrate of a body fluid such as cerebrospinal fluid, blood, or urine.