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 bone marrow access device includes a cannula and a sharp stylet removably positioned in the cannula. The cannula defines a distal opening at a distal tip and a side aperture in a side of the cannula, proximally from the distal opening. The stylet has a sharp distal tip and extends beyond the distal opening. A plug is receivable in the cannula distal to the side aperture to seal the distal opening when the stylet is removed. A method of accessing bone includes inserting the cannula and sharp stylet positioned in the cannula into bone; removing the sharp stylet from the cannula; pushing a plug through the cannula and distal to the side aperture to seal the distal opening of the cannula; and accessing the bone through the side aperture. Accessing the bone can include aspirating bone marrow, injecting a substance, or inserting an instrument into the bone.

An anchor bolt fixation system for catheter probes and electrodes having different diameters. A removable reducing tube is provided for insertion into the lumen of an anchor bolt and an anchor bolt cap is provided for securing the reducing tube to the anchor bolt. A second anchor bolt cap is provided having a bore with a diameter generally equal the diameter of the lumen of the reducing tube.

The present disclosure relates to a subdural evacuation port device for evacuating the subdural space of a patient. The device includes a body that includes: a distal opening at a distal end, a primary evacuation opening at a proximal end, a skull engagement region that at least partially surrounds the distal end of the body, and a primary lumen extending from the distal opening to the primary evacuation opening. The skull engagement regions is also configured to engage with a skull of a patient. The body is formed from a polymer that is sufficiently rigid to sustain suction in the lumen to allow withdrawal of subdural fluid from the distal opening through the primary lumen to a suction device connected to the primary evacuation opening.

Apparatus for delivering therapeutic agents to the central nervous system of a subject is described. The apparatus includes at least one intracranial catheter and a percutaneous access device. The percutaneous access device includes a body having at least one extracorporeal surface and at least one subcutaneous surface, the body defining at least one port for connection to an implanted intracranial catheter. The port is accessible from the extracorporeal surface of the device, but is provided with a seal such as a rubber bung between the lumen of the port and the extracorporeal surface. The percutaneous access device may have more than two ports and/or a flange. A method of implanting the percutaneous access device is also described.

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally the use of certain compositions, e.g., compositions comprising a glutathione precursor and a selenium source, in the therapy of viral diseases and/or reducing the incidence of viral diseases. Related embodiments of the present invention relate to treatment and/or reducing the incidence of respiratory ailments caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) or hemorrhagic fever (EHF) caused by Ebola viruses (EBV) or Marburg virus. Yet in other embodiments, the invention relates to reducing metal toxicity in a biological system, which involves contacting the biological system with a composition comprising a glutathione precursor and a selenium source, optionally together with a chelating agent, an antioxidant, a metallothionein protein or a fragment of metallothionein.

A lubrication device for lubricating a joint of a human or mammal patient, which is entirely implantable in a patient's body, comprises a reservoir for storing a lubricating fluid and a fluid connection for introducing the lubricating fluid into the joint when the device is implanted in the patient's body. Further, the fluid connection comprises a fluid connection device connecting the reservoir with the joint such that a lubricating fluid flow is established from the reservoir into the joint. The fluid connection comprises either an infusion needle adapted to be intermittently placed into the joint for injecting the lubricating fluid, or a tube adapted to be permanently placed into the joint for continuously injecting the lubricating fluid.

A femoral hip joint spacer. The spacer has a prosthesis body with a ball head, a neck, a stem and an anchoring sleeve which encloses the stem on a proximal side of the stem with a circumferential fastening area, irrigation liquid inlet and outlet openings in the body surface, at least one irrigation liquid discharge opening on a distal side of the stem and at least one irrigation liquid intake opening on the ball head or on the neck. The discharge opening is connected in a liquid-permeable manner to the inlet opening but not to the outlet opening and the intake opening is connected inside the prothesis body in a liquid-permeable manner to the outlet opening but not to the inlet opening. A cavity open on two sides is formed inside the anchoring sleeve and connects a proximal side to a distal side of the sleeve in a liquid-permeable manner.

A transcranial fastening device (1) for a drainage catheter (3), comprising an external body (5) being equipped with a passage (P), the passage (P) being equipped with blocking means (9) of the drainage catheter (3) adapted to allow a sliding of the drainage catheter (3) through the passage (P) along a first movement direction (M1) and to prevent a sliding of the drainage catheter (3) through the passage (P) along a second movement direction (M2).

A burr cap assembly is at least partially inserted into a burr hole within the cranium of a patient. The burr cap assembly enables a elongate member to be inserted through the burr cap assembly to access a brain of the patient. A shifting member of the burr cap assembly may be configured to enable the elongate member to move with shifting fluid and matter of the brain. The shifting member of the burr cap assembly may be configured to move within a cavity defined by the burr cap assembly. The shifting member may be configured to move in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the distal portion of the elongate member. The shifting member may at least partially retain the elongate member, so as the shifting brain applies forces upon the elongate member, the elongate member and the shifting member may move within the cavity.