Apparatus for shunting cerebrospinal fluid comprising a ventricular catheter coupled to an artificial fontanelle and a peritoneal catheter. The ventricular catheter may be coupled to the artificial fontanelle and peritoneal catheter via a three-way coupler or the ventricular catheter may be coupled to the peritoneal catheter through the artificial fontanelle. The cerebrospinal fluid flow resistance is lower between the ventricular catheter and the artificial fontanelle than the cerebrospinal fluid flow between the artificial fontanelle and the peritoneal catheter.

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 valve assembly (10) configured to maintain fluid flow therethrough at a constant flow rate. The valve assembly (10) including a flexible flow control member (50) defining an inner fluid chamber (90) within the flexible flow control member (50) and an inlet opening (56) to the inner fluid chamber (90). An outer fluid chamber (92) is defined between the flexible flow control member (50) and an inner surface (74) of a valve housing (20). The flexible flow control member (50) is configured to flex inward and shrink the inner fluid chamber (90) in response to a pressure decrease in the inner fluid chamber (90) relative to the outer fluid chamber (92) resulting from an increase in an inlet flow rate to maintain an outlet flow rate from the valve assembly (10) at the constant flow rate.

An externally programmable shunt valve assembly that includes a motor having a rotor that is operable in response to an externally applied magnetic field and configured to increase or decrease the working pressure of the shunt valve assembly. The motor may further include a position sensing mechanism that allows a position of the rotor, and associated pressure setting of the valve, to be determined using an external magnetic sensor. In certain examples the motor further includes a mechanical brake that is magnetically operable between a locked position and an unlocked position and which, in the locked position, prevents rotation of the rotor.

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.

A shunt delivery system includes: a stylet configured to puncture a vein wall, interstitial tissue, and a dura; a dilator including a transverse hollow interior region extending to an aperture in a distal region, the dilator configured to receive the stylet in the hollow interior region and out through the aperture in the distal region, the dilator configured to pass through tissues punctured by the stylet, including the vein wall, the interstitial tissue, and the dura; and a transdural catheter including a hollow interior region configured to receive the stylet, the transdural catheter configured to traverse the tissues dilated by the dilator, including the vein wall, the interstitial tissue, and the dura, such that a distal tip of the transdural catheter is configured to be located in a thecal sac of the patient.

A method including: introducing a shunt into a vascular system, wherein the shunt includes an inlet aperture in an inlet region and an outlet aperture in an outlet region; positioning the inlet region into an epidural or intervertebral vein; with a stylet, puncturing a wall of the epidural or intervertebral vein, traversing an interstitial space, and puncturing a thecal sac, wherein the stylet includes a wire extending through the shunt; moving the shunt to cause the inlet region to extend through a wall of the epidural or intervertebral vein; moving the shunt to cause the inlet region to extend into an interstitial space; and moving the shunt to cause the inlet region to extend through the thecal sac, such that the inlet region is positioned in an intradural space, and such that the outlet region is positioned in a venous pathway.

A shunt delivery system includes: a stylet configured to puncture a vein wall, interstitial tissue, and a dura; a dilator including a transverse hollow interior region extending to an aperture in a distal region, the dilator configured to receive the stylet in the hollow interior region and out through the aperture in the distal region, the dilator configured to pass through tissues punctured by the stylet, including the vein wall, the interstitial tissue, and the dura; and a transdural catheter including a hollow interior region configured to receive the stylet, the transdural catheter configured to traverse the tissues dilated by the dilator, including the vein wall, the interstitial tissue, and the dura, such that a distal tip of the transdural catheter is configured to be located in a thecal sac of the patient.

An implantable pump for pumping body fluid has a piston which is reciprocatingly movable along a stroke axis, with a piston head, a wall opposite the piston head, and a pump volume enclosed between the piston head and the wall. A stroke movement of the piston causes a change in pump volume and delivery of body fluid between an inlet and an outlet. The piston has a disc, the underside of which forms the piston head, and an elastic ring collar that protrudes radially from the disc. An inner periphery of the ring collar is fixedly and fluid-tightly connected to an outer periphery of the disc, and at an outer periphery of the ring collar is fixedly and fluid-tightly connected to the wall. The disc rests via the ring collar on the wall so as to be reciprocatingly movable relative to the wall and fluid-tightly connected to the wall.

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. The method may include the steps of withdrawing fluid comprising CSF, filtering the volume into permeate and retentate by passing the fluid through a tangential flow filter, and returning the permeate to the subject. During operation of the system, various parameters may be modified, such as flow rate.