A system and method of accurately measuring a pressure (Pp) within a human brain using totally-implanted or partially-external hardware. The system includes a first pressure transducer configured to measure a cerebrospinal fluid pressure (Pcsf) within a ventricle of a brain, a second pressure transducer configured to indirectly measure a second pressure (Pp) within a space of the brain, and an adjustable implanted valve controller configured to calculate the effective differential pressure (Pei=Pcsf−Pp) between the measured pressures Pcsf and the Pp and determine whether the effective differential pressure measurement represents a true secondary pressure.

A modular cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drain system for treating hydrocephalus without penetration of the gray matter of the brain is disclosed. Modular components of the CSF drain system may include a subarachnoid space (SAS) inlet drain implant, a SAS implant plug, a connector implant, a dural venous sinus (DVS) implant plug, and a DVS outlet drain implant. When implanted, the modular components may be fluidly coupled such that cerebrospinal fluid may flow from a subjects subarachnoid space through the modular components and into the subjects cerebral venous sinuses. A kit including a guide device and the CSF drain system, as well as a method for installing the CSF drain system are also disclosed.

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 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.

The METHODS, APPARATUSES AND SYSTEMS FOR INSTILLING STEM CELLS AND PHARMACEUTICALS INTO THE HUMAN VENTRICULAR SYSTEM (hereinafter “Ventricular Stem Cell System” or “VSCS”) disclosed herein provide safe and effective techniques for obtaining stem cells and instilling any type of stem cell or pharmaceutical agents into the human ventricular system for treatment of various diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Multiple Sclerosis, and others.

Systems, catheters, and methods for accessing and treating along the central nervous system are disclosed. A system for processing cerebrospinal fluid is disclosed. The system may include a catheter having a proximal subassembly and a distal subassembly. A pump and filtration system may be coupled to the catheter. An infusion lumen for infusing cerebrospinal fluid filtered by the pump and filtration system may be defined along the distal subassembly. The distal subassembly may define a plurality of infusion openings in fluid communication with the infusion lumen. The infusion openings may increase in size distally along the distal subassembly.

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.

An apparatus for minimally-invasive, including non-invasive, prevention and/or treatment of hydrocephalus and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the apparatus, a housing is sized for superjacent contact with a skull having a fontanel. Within the housing, a compartment includes a pressure applicator, such as a fluid-filled bladder, under the control of a pressure regulator. The pressure applicator is configured to selectively apply an external pressure to the fontanel. The compartment includes a pressure sensor configured to measure intracranial pulse pressure of the fontanel. Further, in one embodiment, the apparatus can cause pulse pressure modulation by adjusting the intracranial pulse pressure via the pressure applicator. This enables a non-invasive measurement of the pulse pressure and modulation thereof in infants, for example.

Intrathecal drug delivery pumps can aspirate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) when the drug reservoir is empty or at other times to maintain a continuous or cyclic fluid flow through the pump and the delivery catheter. This addresses the potential need for continuous infusion to maintain an un-occluded fluid pathway to the intrathecal space by providing an “active port” that aspirates and expels CSF to keep fluid flow going without infusing a drug or requiring saline to fill the pump. If drug refill visits are missed, CSF could be used to keep the pump mechanism functional rather than having it run dry requiring replacement or requiring saline injections to keep the pump mechanism functioning. In addition, by having the pump aspirate CSF into the body of the pump, it would be possible to monitor biomarkers using systems in the fluid pathway and pressure differences for possible issues related to CSF management.

The present disclosure provides uses of TRPV4 antagonists in the treatment or prevention of hydrocephalus symptoms, also known as hydrocephaly, including hydrocephalus as a result of any structural defect, any metabolic defect, any injury (direct force to the head, indirect force to the head, shock waves, pressure changes, etc.), any insult (microbial, chemical, toxins, allergic reactions or other inflammatory process, or other pathology, e.g. cancer, benign tumor, etc.). Related materials and methods are also provided herein.