The present invention relates to a device and an associated method for draining a biological liquid and detecting obstructions. The device for controlling the flow of a biological liquid comprises: a first tube; a first pressure sensor connected to the first tube; a second tube; a second pressure sensor connected to the second tube; an electromechanical actuator connected to the first tube and to the second tube; and a control unit connected to the electromechanical actuator, to the first pressure sensor and to the second pressure sensor, wherein the control unit controls the electromechanical actuator and determines the pressure differential between the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor. This pressure variation allows obstructions to be determined. The method for draining a biological liquid and detecting obstructions compares the measurements of the pressure of the first sensor with a value entered by a user (set point) to actuate the electromechanical actuator. The method also calculates the pressure difference between the measurements of the first sensor and the second sensor to determine the existence and location of an obstruction.

A fluid management system for moving bodily fluid accumulated due to ascites, pleural effusion or pericardial effusion is provided including an implantable pump coupled to an inflow catheter, an outflow catheter, and optionally an anti-clog catheter. The fluid management system facilitates removal of fluid from a body region, such as the peritoneum, pleural cavity or pericardial sac, where drainage is desired to another body region, such as the urinary bladder or the peritoneal cavity. The system includes clog resistant mechanisms such as clog resistant catheters and/or programmed routines for cycling fluid through inlet catheters in predetermined time intervals and/or responsive to sensed conditions to minimize the risk that inlet catheters become clogged due to, for example, tissue ingrowth and/or solid objects within accumulated fluid.

The present invention provides a cerebrospinal fluid shunt system that monitors the intracranial pressures over a portion of a monitoring cycle to calculate short intervals of drainage for every monitoring cycle necessary to produce the desired pressure correction. The system operates to significantly reduce the time during which draining occurs allowing tissue surrounding the catheter to rebound from the catheter holes returning to its normal position for a sufficient amount of time to recover its normal shape.

A skull-mounted drug and pressure sensor (SOS), a smart pump (ISP) electrically coupled to the SOS and a drug delivery and communications catheter communicating the SOS with the ISP are combined for a first embodiment. A skull-mounted (SOS), a metronomic biofeedback pump (MBP) electrically coupled to the SOS and a drug delivery and communications catheter having a sending and receiving optical fiber communicating the SOS with the MBP are combined for a second embodiment. A third embodiment combines a (SOS), an implantable power and communication unit (PCU) electrically coupled to the SOS, and a drug delivery and communications catheter for communicating the SOS with the PCU and for communicating the exterior source of the drug to the SOS. A fourth embodiment combines a ventricular catheter with a CSF accessible chamber and drug delivery port; and an implantable stand-alone skull-mounted drug and pressure sensor (SPS).

A skull-mounted drug and pressure sensor (SOS), a smart pump (ISP) electrically coupled to the SOS and a drug delivery and communications catheter communicating the SOS with the ISP are combined for a first embodiment. A skull-mounted (SOS), a metronomic biofeedback pump (MBP) electrically coupled to the SOS and a drug delivery and communications catheter having a sending and receiving optical fiber communicating the SOS with the MBP are combined for a second embodiment. A third embodiment combines a (SOS), an implantable power and communication unit (PCU) electrically coupled to the SOS, and a drug delivery and communications catheter for communicating the SOS with the PCU and for communicating the exterior source of the drug to the SOS. A fourth embodiment combines a ventricular catheter with a CSF accessible chamber and drug delivery port; and an implantable stand-alone skull-mounted drug and pressure sensor (SPS).

System and method for accessing and treating a patient's cerebrospinal fluid. The system comprises a device with at least one implantable single or multilumen catheter, configured for placement along a patent's cerebrospinal fluid pathway, with at least one domed subcutaneous reservoir and/or pump connected to the catheter(s). The device can also be equipped with control circuitry and controllable valves. The devices allow for drug administration and/or simultaneous, bidirectional cerebrospinal fluid access and exchange. The catheter(s), may be coupled with medical probes that transmit sensor data to the device's processor, which can be configured transmit and receive data and instructions. The catheters may also be configured with guide devices to facilitate implantation. Various configurations, from single dome to multiple dome devices are taught, along with various applications such as epidural and other cerebrospinal drug administration, and various medical diagnostic applications.

Systems and methods for treating biologic fluids are disclosed. Some disclosed embodiments may be used to filter cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a human or animal subject, heat CSF to a target temperature, cool CSF to a target temperature, apply light treatment to CSF, separate cells via their dielectric properties, apply spiral and/or centrifugal separation, introduce additives to target particles, and/or apply combinations thereof. The method may include the steps of withdrawing fluid comprising CSF, treating the fluid, and returning a portion of the treated fluid to the subject. During operation of the system, various parameters may be modified, such as flow rate.

Systems and methods are provided herein that generally involve shunting fluid, e.g., shunting cerebrospinal fluid in the treatment of hydrocephalus. Self-cleaning catheters are provided which include split tips configured such that pulsatile flow of fluid in a cavity in which the catheter is inserted can cause the tips to strike one another and thereby clear obstructions. Catheters with built-in flow indicators are also provided. Exemplary flow indicators include projections that extend radially inward from the interior surface of the catheter and which include imagable portions (e.g., portions which are visible under magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)). Movement of the flow indicators caused by fluid flowing through the catheter can be detected using MRI, thereby providing a reliable indication as to whether the catheter is partially or completely blocked. Systems and methods for flushing a shunt system are also disclosed herein, as are various systems and methods for opening auxiliary fluid pathways through a shunt system.

A skull-mounted drug and pressure sensor (SOS), a smart pump (ISP) electrically coupled to the SOS and a drug delivery and communications catheter communicating the SOS with the ISP are combined for a first embodiment. A skull-mounted (SOS), a metronomic biofeedback pump (MBP) electrically coupled to the SOS and a drug delivery and communications catheter having a sending and receiving optical fiber communicating the SOS with the MBP are combined for a second embodiment. A third embodiment combines a (SOS), an implantable power and communication unit (PCU) electrically coupled to the SOS, and a drug delivery and communications catheter for communicating the SOS with the PCU and for communicating the exterior source of the drug to the SOS. A fourth embodiment combines a ventricular catheter with a CSF accessible chamber and drug delivery port; and an implantable stand-alone skull-mounted drug and pressure sensor (SPS).

A hermetically sealed biocompatible pressure sensor module configured for implant at a desired site at which a pressure is to be measured. Anodic bonding of the pressure module package components which have similar thermal coefficients of expansion provides low stress bonding and maintains long term reliability, dependability and accuracy. The pressure sensor module includes a pressure sensitive membrane which is in direct contact with the environment at which a pressure is to be measured. The pressure sensor module forms a part of a pressure measuring system which uses a telemetry link between the pressure sensor module and an external controller for data transmission and transfer. Operating power for the pressure sensor module is provided by the external controller and an internal rechargeable energy storage component. Accordingly, the pressure measuring system provides a dual stage power and data transfer capability for use with an implantable system. An exemplary use of the pressure sensor module is in a three pressure sensor system including a flow control valve in a shunt to treat hydrocephalus. The use of integrated circuit chips and an internal coil with an optional ferrite core in the pressure sensor module provides for low power consumption and reliable signal processing. An embodiment of the invention includes a pressure sensor and associated electromagnetic coils embedded in the tip portion of the shunt for measuring the pressure of fluid externally of the shunt at the tip portion.