A system including a flow control assembly. The system may include a flow regulating shunt system, for various purposes such as a use as a hydrocephalus shunt. The flow control assembly may be controlled according to selected parameters and methods. These include controlling microelectromechanical (MEMS) system to control a pressure in the flow control assembly.

Methods and apparatus for improving cognitive function within a human. The invention utilizes an implanted device, such as an implantable signal generator or an implantable pump, to affect tissue elements within a Papez circuit of the human brain as well as tissue upstream or downstream from the Papez circuit. The implanted device delivers treatment therapy to thereby improve cognitive function by the human. A sensor may be used to detect various symptoms of the cognitive disorder. A microprocessor algorithm may then analyze the output from the sensor to regulate delivery of the stimulation and/or drug therapy.

A catheter includes a tubular body to be inserted into a living body. The tubular body has a lumen that is held in fluid communication with an injection port defined in a distal end of the tubular body and a suction port near a proximal end of the tubular body, and the suction port is closed when the injection port is open, and the injection port is closed when the suction port is open.

A cerebral vessel access device having a base tube comprising an inner lumen, a shapeable element disposed to one side of the base tube, and an outer jacket covering the base tube and a portion of the shapable element. The shapable element can be configured to deflect from an axis line causing the base tube and outer jacket to deflect along with the shapable element.

A device is described for delivering a therapeutic vibration to a body. The device may include at least two motors in a housing with unbalanced masses coupled to their axles, such that vibration of the masses causes the two motors and housing to vibrate at a beat frequency 80. The motors and housing may be coupled to the body via a platform which places the motors and housings at or near a resonant structure in the body, creating a coupled oscillation between the platform and the body. The vibration may be based on the input signal, such that the system applies the vibration based on the input signal to the user, wherein the signal may be an audio or video signal. The system may be configured to measure and manipulate the flow of cerebral spinal fluid.

A medical image diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to obtain image data which is generated by scanning a brain of a subject; select a target region from the image data; extract a connected region of which a brain function is associated with a brain function of the target region, as an additional region; and output scan target region including the target region and the additional region.

An apparatus and method use a catheter for specific and discriminate treatment of central nervous system disease. With the catheter, selective hypothermia to the brain and/or the spinal cord for injury protection can be achieved without the need for systemic cooling. The catheter is also capable of draining excess cerebrospinal fluid.

An apparatus for performing cerebral micro-dialysis to treat neurological disease of a patient's brain includes a catheter for implantation in or near the patient's brain, an implantable pump communicated with the catheter to transport cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the patient, which CSF contains diseased cells or biomolecules associated with the neurological disease, and an implantable separation device communicated with the pump wherein the diseased cells or biomolecules are removed, where the separation apparatus includes a dialysis membrane impregnated with an antibody, a reversible electrostatic filter, and/or a magnetic field effect fractionation chamber wherein a magnetically-tagged antibody scavenges and aids in the removal of circulating diseased cells or biomolecules from the CSF.

In some embodiments, a device may include an intraventricular access device and an infusion device. The intraventricular access device may include more than one catheter and a container. In some embodiments, the catheter may include an aspiration lumen and an infusion lumen. A distal end of the intraventricular portion of the catheter may be positionable, during use, in a subject's brain fluid. In some embodiments, the container may be coupled to a proximal end of the aspiration lumen. The proximal end of the aspiration lumen may be in fluid communication with the container. In some embodiments, the container may include a barrier positioned between a proximal opening of the aspiration lumen and at least a portion of the infusion lumen adjacent to and/or associated with the container. The barrier may inhibit penetration of a surgical instrument.

The disclosed systems and methods are configurable central nervous system (CNS) delivery solutions for therapeutics, such as genetic medicines. The systems and methods first infuse a therapeutic bolus within intrathecal space and subsequently infuse a flush fluid to move the therapeutic bolus rostrally toward a target area and achieve a desired spread in the spine and/or brain. The second location can be at a location caudal to the delivery location of the therapeutic bolus.