Abstract: The present invention relates to a biologically active medical device, which includes a matrix seeded with progenitor cells, and then covered by ciliated tissue. The matrix is capable of enabling cellular migration. The ciliated tissue is ependymal cells that express at least one of tight junctional complexes, zonula adherens, and gap junctions. The progenitor cells include subpendymal progenitor cells. In some cases the progenitor cells include stem cells, and the ciliated tissue includes at least one of Choroid cells, tanacytes, and circumventricular organs. In some embodiments, the medical device is oriented into a tubular structure in order to form a cerebrospinal shunt. Additional cells and structures may be imbedded within the matrix, such as glia, endothelial cells, stem cells, and blood vessels. The medical device may also be incorporated into a bioreactor including a flexible inner tube defining an anthropomorphically shaped lumen.

Abstract: System and method for accessing and treating a patient's cerebrospinal fluid. The system comprises a device with at least one implantable single or multilumen catheter, configured for placement along a patent's cerebrospinal fluid pathway, with at least one domed subcutaneous reservoir and/or pump connected to the catheter(s). The device can also be equipped with control circuitry and controllable valves. The devices allow for drug administration and/or simultaneous, bidirectional cerebrospinal fluid access and exchange. The catheter(s), may be coupled with medical probes that transmit sensor data to the device's processor, which can be configured transmit and receive data and instructions. The catheters may also be configured with guide devices to facilitate implantation. Various configurations, from single dome to multiple dome devices are taught, along with various applications such as epidural and other cerebrospinal drug administration, and various medical diagnostic applications.

Abstract: A system and method for accessing and treating the cerebrospinal fluid with a multilumen catheter configured for placement along a cerebrospinal fluid pathway and a subcutaneous, dual reservoir/pump. The subcutaneous dual reservoir/pump allows simultaneous, bidirectional cerebrospinal fluid access and cerebrospinal fluid exchange. The two chambers prevent mixing of newly treated and discardable cerebrospinal fluid. The subcutaneous dual reservoir/pump can be used inline with other cerebrospinal fluid devices. The catheter may be coupled with a medical probe that sends a wire to a computational device, which can then send wireless data and receive wireless instructions. A method of assessing cerebrospinal fluid infections is provided, whereby monitoring of the cerebrospinal glucose concentrations with a cerebrospinal glucose sensor and analysis of the data by a computational device can notify a patient or medical provider of an impending infection.

Abstract: This invention is a continuous monitor of the spinal cord and brain microenvironment in injury and disease that also allows therapeutic interventions. It utilizes a multiport catheter that contains a transducer at the tip for monitoring spinal physiological parameters and also allows via additional ports for sampling and exchange of spinal fluid, as well as drug delivery to the central nervous system. This invention allows for more precise therapeutic interventions in spinal cord and brain injury and disease. If the pressure monitor is mounted to the patient, the wireless data transmitter may also send a wireless signal to a wireless data receiver for display on a wireless data display. The catheter would allow for wireless transmission of physiological parameters.

Abstract: A computational catheter device including at least one lumen, pressure sensor(s), external sensor(s), a signal modeler, and a signal analyzer is provided. The pressure sensor generates a pressure signal for a dynamic body system, whereas the external sensor determines the fundamental frequency caused by cardiovascular pulsation or external oscillator. The signal modeler uses catheter location and the fundamental frequency to generate a predicted signal. This predicted signal may be compared to the actual pressure signal by the signal analyzer to generate a calibration. This calibration may include any of a measure of perivascular state, a waveform output which causes standing waves within the dynamic body system, a boundary condition for safe operations, and an indication of abnormal physiology for assistance in catheter navigation. The catheter device may also include an actuator which uses the calibration to achieve homeostasis by fluxing fluids and/or guiding catheter movements.

Abstract: Sensor information is received that indicates insertion of an insertion mechanism into a mechanical body. A virtual representation of the spinal region is generated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a biologically active medical device, which includes a matrix seeded with progenitor cells, and then covered by ciliated tissue. The matrix is capable of enabling cellular migration. The ciliated tissue is ependymal cells that express at least one of tight junctional complexes, zonula adherens, and gap junctions. The progenitor cells include subpendymal progenitor cells. In some cases the progenitor cells include stem cells, and the ciliated tissue includes at least one of Choroid cells, tanacytes, and circumventricular organs. In some embodiments, the medical device is oriented into a tubular structure in order to form a cerebrospinal shunt. Additional cells and structures may be imbedded within the matrix, such as glia, endothelial cells, stem cells, and blood vessels. The medical device may also be incorporated into a bioreactor including a flexible inner tube defining an anthropomorphically shaped lumen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a biologically active medical device, which includes a matrix seeded with progenitor cells, and then covered by ciliated tissue. The matrix is capable of enabling cellular migration. The ciliated tissue is ependymal cells that express at least one of tight junctional complexes, zonula adherens, and gap junctions. The progenitor cells include subpendymal progenitor cells. In some cases the progenitor cells include stem cells, and the ciliated tissue includes at least one of Choroid cells, tanacytes, and circumventricular organs. In some embodiments, the medical device is oriented into a tubular structure in order to form a cerebrospinal shunt. Additional cells and structures may be imbedded within the matrix, such as glia, endothelial cells, stem cells, and blood vessels. The medical device may also be incorporated into a bioreactor including a flexible inner tube defining an anthropomorphically shaped lumen.

Abstract: Sensor information is received that indicates insertion of an insertion mechanism into a mechanical body. A virtual representation of the spinal region is generated.

Abstract: A computational catheter device including at least one lumen, pressure sensor(s), external sensor(s), a signal modeler, and a signal analyzer is provided. The pressure sensor generates a pressure signal for a dynamic body system, whereas the external sensor determines the fundamental frequency caused by cardiovascular pulsation or external oscillator. The signal modeler uses catheter location and the fundamental frequency to generate a predicted signal. This predicted signal may be compared to the actual pressure signal by the signal analyzer to generate a calibration. This calibration may include any of a measure of perivascular state, a waveform output which causes standing waves within the dynamic body system, a boundary condition for safe operations, and an indication of abnormal physiology for assistance in catheter navigation. The catheter device may also include an actuator which uses the calibration to achieve homeostasis by fluxing fluids and/or guiding catheter movements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a biologically active medical device, which includes a matrix seeded with progenitor cells, and then covered by ciliated tissue. The matrix is capable of enabling cellular migration. The ciliated tissue is ependymal cells that express at least one of tight junctional complexes, zonula adherens, and gap junctions. The progenitor cells include subpendymal progenitor cells. In some cases the progenitor cells include stem cells, and the ciliated tissue includes at least one of Choroid cells, tanacytes, and circumventricular organs. In some embodiments, the medical device is oriented into a tubular structure in order to form a cerebrospinal shunt. Additional cells and structures may be imbedded within the matrix, such as glia, endothelial cells, stem cells, and blood vessels. The medical device may also be incorporated into a bioreactor including a flexible inner tube defining an anthropomorphically shaped lumen.

Abstract: This invention relates to cerebrospinal fluid shunts, and a method of treating shunt catheters, whereby the interior lumen of a shunt catheter, comprised of a biocompatible matrix, is seeded with cells for placement within cerebrospinal fluid pathways of the central nervous system. The seeded cells have at least one of the following characteristics: (1) they are of a polarized ependymal epithelial phenotype with tight junctional complexes and apical cilia directed toward the lumen of the catheter; (2) they maintain stem/progenitor characteristics and are capable of neurogenesis; (3) they maintain stem/progenitor characteristics and are capable of gliogenesis.

Abstract: A system and method for accessing and treating the cerebrospinal fluid with a multilumen catheter configured for placement along a cerebrospinal fluid pathway and a subcutaneous, dual reservoir/pump. The subcutaneous dual reservoir/pump allows simultaneous, bidirectional cerebrospinal fluid access and cerebrospinal fluid exchange. The two chambers prevent mixing of newly treated and discardable cerebrospinal fluid. The subcutaneous dual reservoir/pump can be used inline with other cerebrospinal fluid devices. The catheter may be coupled with a medical probe that sends a wire to a computational device, which can then send wireless data and receive wireless instructions. A method of assessing cerebrospinal fluid infections is provided, whereby monitoring of the cerebrospinal glucose concentrations with a cerebrospinal glucose sensor and analysis of the data by a computational device can notify a patient or medical provider of an impending infection.

Abstract: This invention is a continuous monitor of the spinal cord and brain microenvironment in injury and disease that also allows therapeutic interventions. It utilizes a multiport catheter that contains a transducer at the tip for monitoring spinal physiological parameters and also allows via additional ports for sampling and exchange of spinal fluid, as well as drug delivery to the central nervous system. This invention allows for more precise therapeutic interventions in spinal cord and brain injury and disease. If the pressure monitor is mounted to the patient, the wireless data transmitter may also send a wireless signal to a wireless data receiver for display on a wireless data display. The catheter would allow for wireless transmission of physiological parameters.

Abstract: This invention is a continuous monitor of the spinal cord and brain microenvironment in injury and disease that also allows therapeutic interventions. It utilizes a multiport catheter that contains a transducer at the tip for monitoring spinal physiological parameters and also allows via additional ports for sampling and exchange of spinal fluid, as well as drug delivery to the central nervous system. This invention allows for more precise therapeutic interventions in spinal cord and brain injury and disease.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of treating mammals at risk or affected by central nervous glial scarring by administering a cyclosporine component. Among the conditions treated are, but not limited to, epidural scarring, meningeal fibrosis, arachnoiditis, nerve root tethering, brain and spinal cord injury, as well as peripheral nerve, tendon and ligament scarring.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of treating mammals at risk or affected by spinal cord edema by administering a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor that crosses the blood-spinal cord barrier. Among the conditions treated are, but not limited to, spinal cord injury, spinal cord tumors and vascular malformations, spinal infections, transverse myelitis, multiple sclerosis, syringomyelia and the pre-syrinx state.

Abstract: This invention relates to cerebrospinal fluid shunts, and a method of treating shunt catheters, whereby the interior lumen of a shunt catheter, comprised of a biocompatible matrix, is seeded with cells for placement within cerebrospinal fluid pathways of the central nervous system. The seeded cells have at least one of the following characteristics: (1) they are of a polarized ependymal epithelial phenotype with tight junctional complexes and apical cilia directed toward the lumen of the catheter; (2) they maintain stem/progenitor characteristics and are capable of neurogenesis; (3) they maintain stem/progenitor characteristics and are capable of gliogenesis.