The invention concerns the field of medical devices, more particularly devices for joint extraction, within an organism, of at least one metal cation and at least one target molecule. In order to do this, the device comprises: a) at least one ligand exhibiting specific affinity for the target molecule; b) at least one means for extraction of the metal cation, said means being a perfusion fluid comprising at least one chelating agent, the perfusion fluid being contained in a dialysis or microdialysis system. The use of these devices makes it possible, for example, to prevent and/or treat pathologies linked to dysregulation of the homeostasis of metals and/or target molecules in the organism, for example neurological diseases and/or proteinopathies.

The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods for increasing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flux. In some embodiments, changes to the curvature of the spinal column results in increased CSF flux. In some embodiments, an implantable pump is used to provide a pressure wave to the CSF. In some embodiments, increased CSF flux resulting in improved clearance of the glymphatic system. In some embodiments, symptoms of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases are improved as a result of increased CSF flux.

This disclosure describes devices and methods used to inject or aspirate fluid into or from various regions of the human body, such as the anterior chamber of the eye. The disclosed devices and methods provide improvements over conventional devices and methods in that an operator can perform a procedure using the disclosed device without an assistant. The disclosed devices and methods allow one-handed injection or aspiration of fluid into or from body tissue, and provide means for controlling the volume of injected or aspirated fluid.

Filtering cassettes, filtering systems, and methods for using the same are disclosed. An example filtering cassette may include a cassette housing. An inlet may be coupled to the cassette housing. The inlet may be configured to receive cerebrospinal fluid from a catheter. An outlet may be coupled to the cassette housing. The outlet may be configured to direct filtered cerebrospinal fluid to the catheter. One or more filters may be disposed within the cassette housing. An arcuate surface may be defined along a periphery of the cassette housing. The arcuate surface may be configured to engage a controller assembly when the cassette housing is mounted to the controller assembly.

A method of managing cancer in a patient’s cerebrospinal fluid (“CSF”) forms a fluid circuit by fluidly communicating a set of catheters (“a catheter”) with the patient’s brain ventricle and the patient’s lumbar and, while controlling the flow rate of the CSF through the CSF fluid circuit, filters cancer cells from the CSF through the fluid circuit. The method also determines both a variable indicative of cancer cell concentration in the CSF, and at some point, that the variable has attained or passed through a threshold value (e.g., greater than a maximum threshold value or below a minimum threshold value). The method stops controlling the CSF flow rate in response to the variable attaining and/or passing through the threshold value. The CSF flow rate therefore preferably returns to a natural CSF flow rate of the patient after stopping control of the CSF flow rate. A system preferably performs these acts.

Disclosed is a system including a contact limiting portion. The system may include a flow regulating or shunt system, for various purposes. The system may include a limiting contact portion for extended use of the disclosed system.

Disclosed is a control system for a shunt system implantable in a subject. The control system may operate a selected portion of the shunt system, such as a flow control. The control system may operate the shunt system with a closed feedback loop based upon selected sensor input to achieve selected or optimal outcomes.

A control system and method for automatically adjusting the height of an external ventricular drain from a patient. The height of a pole supporting the bag into which the fluid is drained can be varied, increased or decreased, as driven by a motor. A drip chamber and collection bag that receive the fluid from the patient are attached to the height variable pole. An external fluid pressure tube is coupled to the patient at one end and to a pressure sensor at the other. The pressure sensor is coupled to the height variable pole. The system includes a feedback loop that adjusts the height of the external ventricular drain (EVD) to match the height of the patient's head. As the patient's head moves up or down, the variable height pole moves up and down a corresponding distance to maintain the patient's intracranial or intraspinal pressure, and therefore the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage rate, at a preset value.

A system and related method are provided for draining cerebrospinal fluid from a bodily cavity of a patient, such as a ventricle in the brain in one application. The system includes a reservoir which may be a collapsible container configured for fluidic connection to a shunt located in the bodily cavity. The collapsible container may be an elastically deformable bladder in one embodiment. A pump is fluidly connected to the collapsible container and draws cerebrospinal fluid therefrom. A programmable controller directs the pump to repeatedly activate and deactivate at a predetermined time interval. A plurality of sensors may be provided which are communicably coupled to the controller for monitoring pump motor current draw, tension in the resilient body of the container, pressure, and orientation of the patient. The controller is configurable to deactivate the pump when abnormal operating conditions are detected by the sensors.

Body fluid management systems and associated methods include in-line measurement and/or detection of analytes, contaminants, and/or physical characteristics for the diagnosis or detection of disease, infection, or toxicity.