A drainage catheter with retractable internal drains for fluid drainage and irrigation. The drainage catheter with retractable internal drains generally includes a primary catheter for insertion within a subject, a lumen within the primary catheter for conducting fluid flow between a source of fluid drainage or irrigation and the subject, and a plurality of selectively retractable and deployable drains in fluid communication with the lumen. Retraction and deployment of the drains within a subject is accomplished remotely via a specially shaped stylet and common drain connector within the primary catheter. The plurality of drains are enclosed within the primary catheter in the retracted state and extend radially outwardly from the primary catheter in the deployed state. In the retracted state, insertion and location of the primary catheter in a subject are facilitated. In the deployed state, expanded and improved drainage and irrigation area and a plurality of fluid flow paths and locations are provided.

The present invention is thus directed to methods and apparatus for decreasing pressure in a first portion of a vessel of the cardiac structure of a patient by implanting a shunt communicating with an area outside said first portion, whereby a volume of blood sufficient to reduce pressure in said first portion is released.

Disclosed herein is a catheter apparatus for cranial cavities which exhibits the advantage of a conventional catheter structure in that a medicine and a bodily fluid are transferred along different paths, uniformizes the outer diameter of a catheter to easily use stereotactic equipment, and facilitates tunneling of the rear end of the catheter in a bypass space between the skull and the skin, so as to allow an operation to be simply and easily performed and thus to increase safety in operation. The catheter apparatus is advantageous in that no protrusion is formed on the outer surface of the catheter and thus the end of the catheter may be easily and accurately located in a cerebral ventricle using the stereotactic equipment, the catheter may be easily bent through the bypass space, and the rear end of the catheter may be easily exposed to the outside through a perforated part.

The invention relates to a monitoring and regulation device configured for implantation in the heart, including at least one pressure sensor located in a distally arranged section of a shaft and a regulation device configured for regulating blood flow and blood pressure. The regulation device includes the shaft, a first pressure valve, a second pressure valve, and a sliding element. The pressure sensor is configured to output data that is used to monitor vital parameters of a cardiovascular system. The shaft is tubular with a lumen that extends axially there through. The shaft has distal and proximal sections and a central section, wherein the distal and proximal sections are disc-shaped extended, thus forming a first double disc at the distal section and a second double disc at the proximal section. The central section links the first and second double discs. The central section of the shaft has an opening. The first pressure valve is disposed in the opening in the central section of the shaft. The second pressure valve is located in the lumen in the proximal section of the shaft. The sliding element is housed inside the lumen. The sliding element has an axially movable and rotatable cylindrical piston and a piston rod, wherein pushing the piston towards the distal section of the shaft or rotating the piston results in a partial or complete closing of the opening for controlling the blood flow.

A device that can be placed within or near the cranial vault that fluctuates in size in response to changes in CSF pressure is disclosed. The device diminishes in size when CSF pressures rise and increases in size as CSF pressures diminish. The device has the effect of reducing the flow of CSF occurring in the foramen magnum and provides an alternative to craniovertebral decompression in Chiari I patients. The device may have applications in other neurologic illnesses associated with abnormal CSF flow, such as Idiopathic Syringomyelia, Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, and CSF dural leaks.

An implantable body fluid drainage system includes a metering shunt having a housing with an internal chamber. A movable barrier divides the chamber into a first section and a second section, and the barrier can be displaced by a differential pressure. A first powered inlet valve providing a fill path to the first section of the chamber, and a first powered drain valve providing a drain path from the first section of the chamber. A CSF inlet conduit connects a CSF space to the first powered inlet valve. A CSF outlet conduit connects the first powered outlet valve to a discharge location. A controller opens the first powered inlet valve and close the first powered drain valve to fill the first section to a volume defined by the barrier and chamber geometry and closes the first powered inlet valve and opens the first powered drain valve to discharge the filled volume from the first section through the outlet conduit.

In some embodiments, systems, methods and devices for using passive pressure sensors to measure pressure at an inaccessible location are provided. In some embodiments, a system for determining pressure in a ventriculoperitoneal shunt implanted in a subject is provided, the system comprising: an acoustic source emitting signals over a range of frequencies; the ventriculoperitoneal shunt, comprising: a lumen that provides a conduit for cerebrospinal fluid between; and a passive acoustic element in a wall of the ventriculoperitoneal shunt filled with a gas, wherein the passive acoustic element emits a second signal at a resonant frequency that varies based on the pressure on the passive acoustic element; an acoustic receiver that detects the second signal and outputs an electrical signal that represents at least the resonant frequency; and a processor programmed to: receive the electrical signal; determine the pressure using the resonant frequency; and present the pressure using a display.

Aspects herein relate to systems and methods for delivery of biologic agents to the central nervous system. In various embodiments, a method of administering a therapeutic agent to the central nervous system (CNS) is included. The method can include injecting a therapeutic agent into a first cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) region of the subject. The method can further include establishing fluid communication between a fluid reservoir and a second cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) region of a subject, the fluid having a hydraulic pressure at or above an intracranial pressure. The method can further include infusing a hyperosmotic fluid systemically. Other embodiments, including kits and systems are also included herein.

Apparatuses and methods for measurement of flow rate of cerebrospinal fluid in a conduit are provided. The apparatus comprises a heating element mounted on the conduit, the heating element arranged for heating the CSF flowing through the conduit for generating bubbles. The apparatus further comprises two optical sensing devices mounted sequentially on the conduit and downstream from the heating element. The first optical sensing device and the second optical sensing device are separated by a predetermined device interval. Both the first and the second optical sensing devices comprise an optical emitter and an optical detector. The apparatus further comprises a processing device coupled to the optical sensing devices, wherein the signals from the optical sensing devices are transmitted to the processing device for detection of bubbles, resulting in the detection of the flow velocity. The bubble size can be optimized by applying ultrasonic waves or thermal energy.

A ventricular catheter assembly including a proximal catheter and a cooperating cranial cover. The cranial cover includes a base plate having an opening aligned with a burr hole in the skull of a person. A guide extends upwardly from the base plate and receives the proximal catheter.