Devices and methods for the measurement and control of fluid using one or two capacitors are described. The devices use Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS) and radio-frequency inductive coupling to sense the properties of a fluid in a tube. The single and double capacitor devices may be coupled to shunts implantable in a patient and operable to be interrogated non-invasively. The shunts employing the novel capacitor devices are insensitive to stray signals such as the orientation of a patient's head. The devices are operable to employ a wireless external spectrometer to measure passive subcutaneous components.

Systems and methods for regulating fluid flow are provided. A valve for regulating fluid flow includes a tubing, a regulating element, and an actuator. The tubing is configured to allow fluid flow therethrough. The regulating element is arranged proximate to the tubing. The actuator is arranged proximate to the regulating element, and is configured to manipulate a parameter associated with the regulating element.

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.

Systems, catheters, and methods for accessing and treating along the central nervous system are disclosed including sampling systems. An example sampling system may include a filter cassette designed to filter cerebrospinal fluid. The filter cassette may have an inlet region configured to be coupled to a catheter and configured to receive cerebrospinal fluid, one or more filters, and an outlet region configured to be coupled to an outlet of the catheter and to direct filtered cerebrospinal fluid to the catheter. A sampling port may be in fluid communication with the filter cassette. The sampling port may have a first end region configured to receive cerebrospinal fluid, a stopcock, a syringe port, and a second end region. The stopcock may be configured to shift between a first position where cerebrospinal fluid is directed from the first end region to the second end region and a second position where cerebrospinal fluid is directed from the first end region to the syringe port.

A cerebral spinal fluid shunt plug includes a shunt plug housing having a recess formed therein and a shunt valve shaped and dimensioned for positioning within the recess of the shunt plug housing.

A medical system includes a control unit that executes control of setting a first period in which cerebrospinal fluid is discharged from a body cavity while a fluid is injected into the body cavity and a second period in which the fluid is not injected into the body cavity and the cerebrospinal fluid is not discharged from the body cavity and alternately repeating the first period and the second period.

An endovascular shunt implantation system includes a guide member configured for being deployed in an inferior petrosal sinus, and a delivery catheter movably coupled to the guide member, wherein a distal end of the delivery catheter includes a tissue penetrating element. A guard is disposed over the tissue penetrating element, the guard having an open distal end portion including an inner surface feature configured to deflect the tissue penetrating element away from the guide member when the tissue penetrating element is translated distally relative to the guard. A shunt delivery shuttle is positioned within, and is movable relative to, the delivery catheter, the shunt delivery shuttle having a distal portion configured to collapse around an elongate shunt body to thereby transport the shunt body through the delivery catheter, wherein the distal portion self-expands to release the shunt body when the distal shuttle portion is advanced out of the delivery catheter.

A cerebral monitoring device for determining failure of a shunt used to treat pediatric hydrocephalus. The cerebral monitoring device including a controller configured to control an optical instrument to emit multi-spectral light to illuminate a cranial tissue of the patient, and control an optical detector to detect multi-spectral light emitted from the illuminated cranial tissue of the patient. The controller also configured to compare the emitted multi-spectral light to the detected multi-spectral light, compute cerebral blood flow (CBF) data based on the comparison, compute a pulsatility index of the CBF data, compute a pulsatility index of blood pressure of the patient, compute intracranial pressure (ICP) based on the pulsatility index of the CBF data and the pulsatility index of the blood pressure, and determine shunt failure based on blood oxygen saturation of the patient and the ICP of the patient.

A dependent closed pressure vessel is fluidly coupled to an independent closed pressure vessel. A pressure sensor monitors pressure in the vessels to generate raw pressure measurement data. A flow meter monitors multidirectional rate of flow of fluid between the vessels and the volume of fluid flowing from the independent closed pressure vessel to generate raw rate of flow and raw volume measurement data. A pressure/flow regulator valve adjusts pressure in the dependent closed pressure vessel in response to a pressure set point signal generated in response to the raw pressure data, adjusts the rate of flow of fluid between the vessels in response to a rate of flow set point signal generated in response to the raw rate of flow data, and adjusts the rate of flow of fluid between the vessels in response to a volume set point signal generated in response to the raw volume data.