A continuous-flow system for the treatment of edema in an injured central nervous system (CNS) tissue, including: a reversibly implantable device having: an inflow pathway, an outflow pathway, and a fluid flow pathway connecting the first outlet of the inflow pathway and the second inlet of the outflow pathway, wherein the fluid flow pathway includes a semi-permeable membrane; a first reservoir; a fluid-driving apparatus; a second reservoir; and a plurality of fluid flow conduits that fluidically connect the first reservoir, the fluid-driving apparatus, the second reservoir, and the reversibly implantable device; wherein the reversibly implantable device is configured to allow direct contact between the semi-permeable membrane and at least a portion of the injured CNS tissue; wherein the system is configured to contain a solution that pass through the fluid flow pathway and induces osmotic flow of water from the injured CNS tissue across the semipermeable membrane and into the solution, thereby decreasing swelling of the tissue. Also disclosed are related methods for removing water from a traumatically injured central nervous system (CNS) tissue in a subject.

An implantable glymphatic pump configured to flush metabolites from a brain parenchyma of a patient. The implantable glymphatic pump including at least one spinal catheter having a distal end configured to be positioned within an intrathecal space of a spine of a patient, at least one cranial catheter having a distal end configured to be positioned within a brain parenchyma of the patient, and an implantable pump configured to draw cerebrospinal fluid from the intrathecal space of the spine in the patient via the at least one spinal catheter, and reintroduce said cerebrospinal fluid to the brain parenchyma of the patient via the one or more cranial catheters to encourage a flow of the cerebrospinal fluid through the brain parenchyma.

The present invention provides methods and systems for conditioning cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by removing target compounds from CSF. The systems provide for a catheter flow path and exchange of a majority volume portion of CSF in the CSF space. The removal and/or delivery of specific compounds can be tailored to the pathology of the specific disease. The removal is targeted and specific, for example, through the use of specific size-exclusion thresholds, antibodies against specific toxins, and other chromatographic techniques, as well as delivery and/or removal of targeted therapeutic agents.

The present invention provides methods and systems for conditioning cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by removing target compounds from CSF. The systems provide for a catheter flow path and exchange of a majority volume portion of CSF in the CSF space. The removal and/or delivery of specific compounds can be tailored to the pathology of the specific disease. The removal is targeted and specific, for example, through the use of specific size-exclusion thresholds, antibodies against specific toxins, and other chromatographic techniques, as well as delivery and/or removal of targeted therapeutic agents.

The present disclosure relates generally to controlling a volume of fluid within a portion of a patient's body. For example, the present disclosure can relate to the addition or removal of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) from a portion of the patient's brain. The amount of fluid can be controlled by a system that includes a dual chamber probe and a volume control. One channel can include a drain element to drain the fluid from the portion of a patient's body. The other channel can include a volume changing element to facilitate the drainage of the fluid by changing a volume of the portion of the patient's body. The volume changing element can be coupled to a volume control, which can control the change of the volume of the portion of the patient's body (e.g., based on passive oscillation or active oscillation).

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.

An implantable intracranial pulse pressure modulator for treating hydrocephalus in patients of all ages is disclosed as well as a system and method for use of the same. In one embodiment of the implantable intracranial pulse pressure modulator, two one-way valves are interposed in parallel, opposing orientations between a vestibule and a chamber. One of the one-way valves, in response to systole, provides fluid communication from the vestibule to the chamber such that a small aliquot of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is displaced from a cerebral ventricle into a ventricular catheter, thereby reducing intraventricular systolic pressure. The other one-way valve, in response to diastole, provides fluid communication from the chamber to the vestibule such that the same volume of CSF is reintroduced into a cerebral ventricle, thereby increasing intraventricular diastolic pressure. Together, both processes work synergistically to reduce intraventricular pulse pressure in order to treat hydrocephalus.

Described herein is a safety system that works collectively with an automated fluid drain control apparatus and systems and clinical experts to establish protocols and methods for given patient populations to ensure that the drainage of fluid from patients is both safe and effective. It further enables the transportation of drain orders from systems external to the drain system and returns to them the drainage data on a periodic basis for inclusion into the patient chart.

An implantable intracranial pulse pressure modulator for treating hydrocephalus in patients of all ages is disclosed as well as a system and method for use of the same. In one embodiment of the implantable intracranial pulse pressure modulator, two one-way valves are interposed in parallel, opposing orientations between a vestibule and a chamber. One of the one-way valves, in response to systole, provides fluid communication from the vestibule to the chamber such that a small aliquot of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is displaced from a cerebral ventricle into a ventricular catheter, thereby reducing intraventricular systolic pressure. The other one-way valve, in response to diastole, provides fluid communication from the chamber to the vestibule such that the same volume of CSF is reintroduced into a cerebral ventricle, thereby increasing intraventricular diastolic pressure. Together, both processes work synergistically to reduce intraventricular pulse pressure in order to treat hydrocephalus.

A central nervous system drain drains the subdural space intracranially or the postoperative epidural space in the spine. The drain includes one or more lumens that communicate with the outside environment through openings in the distal portion of the drain. The drain also includes a flat bottom wall without any openings which is placed on the brain surface in the subdural space intracranially or the epidural surface in the spinal canal after a laminectomy. The openings in the top wall and/or side surface walls allow for drainage of fluid and/or blood in the subdural space or postoperative wound in the spine.