An apparatus for loading an endovascular shunt into a delivery catheter includes a base, a boss rod connected to, and extending longitudinally across, the base, and a plurality of guide bosses slidably coupled to the boss rod. The guide bosses include a delivery catheter guide boss coupled to the delivery catheter, a malecot holding tube guide boss, wherein a malecot holding tube is connected to a first lateral side of the malecot guide boss extending towards the delivery catheter guide boss, a claw assembly guide boss, where a claw assembly is attached to a first lateral side of the claw guide boss extending towards the malecot holding tube guide boss, and a chase pin guide boss, wherein a chase pin is connected to a first lateral side of the chase pin guide boss extending towards the claw assembly guide boss.

Systems and methods for filtering materials from biologic fluids are discussed. Embodiments may be used to filter cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a human or animal subject. In an example, CSF is separated into a permeate and retentate using a tangential flow filter. The retentate is filtered again and then returned to the subject with the permeate. During operation of the system, various parameters may be modified, such as flow rate and waste rate.

Brain drainage device having a rod-shaped hollow body with an inner drainage channel for insertion through the cranium into the brain, a first sensor arrangement with at least one sensor for measuring a physical parameter, and a signal interface; wherein the rod-shaped hollow body has a first region A which configured to protrude into the ventricle situated in the brain; wherein the rod-shaped hollow body has a second region B, which is arranged proximally from the first region, wherein the second region is configured to lie in the region of the brain mass; wherein the first sensor arrangement is arranged in the second region in order to measure a physical parameter of the brain mass; wherein the first sensor arrangement is connected to the signal interface such that measurement data determined by the first sensor arrangement are transmitted to a measuring system.

The present invention operates to significantly reduce over or under drainage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the brain or spinal cord using an extraventricular drain (EVD) in the brain or lumbar drainage device (LDD) and automated intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring. The present invention attaches the drainage catheter of the EVD to a flow controller or valve which controls the flow of CSF from the drainage catheter and is electronically controlled by a stepper motor communicating with a pressure transducer receiving pressure signals indicating an ICP without the need for constant manual re-leveling.

The present invention relates to a filtering device for removing particles from a bodily fluid of a patient, the filtering device being implantable in the patient's body. The device has a tube forming a main fluid passageway for bodily fluid, through which the bodily fluid of the patient passes when the tube is implanted in the patient, a filter connected to the tube and a filter cleaning device for cleaning the filter by moving particles collected by the filter out of the fluid passageway, wherein the filter cleaning device is adapted to replace the first filter in the fluid passageway with a second filter, thereby moving the particles collected by the first filter out of the fluid passageway.

A steerable catheter, such as a dilator, includes an elongated shaft including a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, an end effector disposed at the distal end portion of the shaft, and a handle disposed at the proximal end portion of the shaft. The end effector includes a dilation portion disposed proximate the distal end portion of the shaft, a transition portion disposed distally on the dilation portion, and a distal tip portion disposed distally on the transition portion. The tip portion is movable relative to the dilation portion. The handle includes a tip portion steering actuator enabling a user to steer the tip portion. The tip portion has a tip portion diameter. The dilation portion has a dilation portion diameter which is greater than the tip portion diameter. The transition portion tapers from the tip portion diameter to the dilation portion diameter.

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.

The invention includes a shunt for at least partial implantation into a patient that includes an elongated conduit having at least one lumen therethrough, that includes a proximal end for receipt of bodily fluids for flow through the shunt and a distal end for discharge of the bodily fluids from the shunt, and a long term source of at least one occlusion resistant agent, wherein said at least a portion of the at least one occlusion resistant agent can permeate through at least a portion of the elongated conduit. The invention also includes kits and systems.

An implantable cranial medical device includes a first fluid flow path, a second fluid flow path, and upper flange portion, and a lower portion. The upper flange portion is configured to rest on a skull of a subject about a burr hole. The lower portion is configured to be placed within the burr hole. The first fluid flow path may extend from a first opening in the upper flange portion to a first opening in the lower portion. The second fluid flow path may extend from a second opening in the upper flange portion to a second opening in the lower portion.

A pressure sensing apparatus comprises an elongate first sensor device in a beam configuration supported at at least one longitudinal end by a rigid support structure and having a deflectable portion. A chamber is disposed adjacent a first, internally-facing, face of the first sensor device. An envelope hermetically seals the first sensor device and the chamber from an ambient environment external to the pressure sensing apparatus. The envelope comprises a flexible membrane disposed over and coupled to a second, externally-facing, face of the first sensor device and extending along at least one or two sides of the first sensor device and the chamber. The sensor device may be a surface acoustic wave device coupled to an RF antenna.