Abstract: A sensing and drainage catheter for use in a cranial site includes a reduced diameter connector so that traditional tunneling techniques may be used with the connector-equipped proximal end of the catheter, rather than the sensor-equipped distal end of the catheter. The catheter includes a drainage lumen and a signal conducting lumen. The signal conducting lumen including a distal sensor for sensing the properties of cerebral spinal fluid and means for transmitting data signals representing those properties in either optical or electrical form to a reduced diameter connector attached to the proximal end of the lumen. A method comprises first accurately locating the distal end of the ventricular catheter in the brain ventricle prior to the catheter being tunneled under the scalp.

Abstract: A sensing and drainage catheter for use in a cranial site includes a reduced diameter connector so that traditional tunneling techniques may be used with the connector-equipped proximal end of the catheter, rather than the sensor-equipped distal end of the catheter. The catheter includes a drainage lumen and a signal conducting lumen. The signal conducting lumen including a distal sensor for sensing the properties of cerebral spinal fluid and means for transmitting data signals representing those properties in either optical or electrical form to a reduced diameter connector attached to the proximal end of the lumen. A method comprises first accurately locating the distal end of the ventricular catheter in the brain ventricle prior to the catheter being tunneled under the scalp.