A surgical access assembly and method of use is disclosed. The surgical access assembly comprises an outer sheath and an obturator. The outer sheath and obturator are configured to be delivered to an area of interest within the brain. Either the outer sheath or the obturator may be configured to operate with a navigational system to track the location of either within the brain. Once positioned at a desired location, the obturator is removed, leaving a distal end of the outer sheath adjacent an area of interest, and creating a working corridor. Interrogation of the area of interest may be performed to evaluate a disorder and/or abnormality, as well as evaluate treatment regimes. Interventional devices may also be introduced to the area of interest, as well as a variety of treatments.

A dopamine or drug/therapeutics delivery and monitoring system for treatment of brain disease having an implantable titrator connected to the brain, a microtube for delivery of dopamine, a second microtube for withdrawal of CSF, a micropump for controlled pumping of dopamine into the brain responsive to sensed dopamine levels in the withdrawn CSF and a mixing chamber in the implantable titrator to combine withdrawn CSF with dopamine from a reservoir in the titrator to form a mixture for controlled delivery of the mixture. The system may have a fiber optic implanted and dopamine sensor responsive to certain sensed wavelengths of light received by a microcontroller. The system further has a dopamine reservoir and a carbon fiber resistance probe and may use fast scan cyclic voltammetry. A needle memory alloy having a straight and curved phase can be deployed into a blood vessel of a vascular system for trans-vascular delivery.

The invention describes catheter systems and methods for accessing the brain during endovascular/neurointervention procedures in the treatment of ischemic stroke. More specifically, a catheter system having a deployable redirection device (RD) is described that improves the process of accessing a clot in a patient with acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion.

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 and method for managing fluid in a patient, the catheter having an elongated shaft with a distal end and a proximal end. The shaft defines at least one lumen extending substantially therethrough, the shaft further defining a plurality of drainage holes along a distal portion of the shaft, with the drainage holes in fluid communication with the lumen. The catheter further has a substantially transparent tip portion attached to the distal end of the shaft with an outer distal leading surface that is substantially rounded to assist insertion through tissue.

Embodiments of the present invention utilize a closed-loop feedback control system to ensure accurate drug delivery. This control system may, for example, utilize a flow sensor to measure the volume of delivery and an intelligent control algorithm to anticipate and compensate for overdoses and underdoses. Feedback control systems in accordance herewith can be applied to any piston- or plunger-driven pump system utilizing sensors that measure flow directly or indirectly. In some embodiments, adjustments are made during a “priming” stage when liquid is pumped through the internal fluid path but does not exit the pump.

Systems and methods for temporarily altering a tissue characteristic at a target region, such as the blood-brain barrier, include causing an ultrasound transducer to transmit acoustic energy to the target region at a transmission frequency; acquiring a cumulative harmonic response from at least the target region; and operating the transducer based at least in part on the acquired cumulative harmonic response.

An implantable device is for the selective removal of molecules from tissues or fluids so as to allow the selective removal of a particular molecule of interest (target molecule) from any type of fluid solution or tissue, including biological tissues or fluids. The device operates through the complementary action of specific-binding molecules (antibodies) directed against the target molecule inside the device. The device includes a nanoperforated membrane having pores larger than the target molecule but smaller than the antibodies, such that the fluid can be removed through a second catheter with a lower concentration of target molecules.

Devices for transferring fluid to or from a subject include an extension tube assembly with an axially extending inner tube configured to couple to an elongate tubular cannula having opposing proximal and distal ends with an axially extending lumen and an axially extending inner tube. The inner tube extending through the tubular cannula defines an exposed needle tip and is in fluid communication with the inner tube of the extension tube assembly. The needle tip extends out of a distal end of the tubular cannula a suitable distance.

An embodiment of the invention is directed to a microfabricated, silicon-based, Convection Enhanced Delivery (CED) device. The device comprises a silicon shank portion, at least one individual parylene channel disposed along at least a part of an entire length of the shank, wherein the channel has one or more dimensioned fluid exit ports disposed at one or more respective locations of the channel and a fluid (drug) input opening. The fluid input opening may be configured or adapted to be connected to a fluid reservoir and/or a pump and/or a meter and/or a valve or other suitable control device(s) or apparatus that supplies and/or delivers fluid (e.g., a drug) to the microfabricated device. The device may have multiple channels disposed side by side or in different surfaces of the device. The device may be rigid, or flexible, in which case a flexible device can be attached to a bio-degradable support scaffold that provides sufficient structural rigidity for insertion of the device into the target tissue. In certain “functionalized” embodiments of the invention, the CED device is equipped with integrated electrodes and/or a sensor (e.g., glutamate) to detect and convey selective parametric information. Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a CED method for drugs and/or other agents. The method may comprise the delivery of enzymes or other materials to modify tissue permeability and improve drug diffusion. Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method for making a device for CED of drugs.