Abstract: Cerebrospinal fluid shunts (implantable devices for diversion of excess fluid from the brain to other body cavities) used to treat hydrocephalus often malfunction. A common etiology of shunt malfunction is obstruction of the distal catheter tip by accumulating particulate matter such as fat or proteinaceous debris. The proposed implantable device maintains the patency of the cerebrospinal fluid shunt with mechanical energy which serves to “scrub” the catheter lumen of particulate debris. The proposed device accomplishes this by housing a source of mechanical energy which is coupled to the external aspect of the catheter, itself traversing through a bore in the device. The energy source secondarily induces a waveform in the cerebrospinal fluid flowing through the catheter. The fluid waveform exerts shearing forces on the catheter wall and serves to disrupt the formation and accumulation of debris that potentially could occlude the shunt catheter, thereby maintaining patency of the shunt.

Abstract: A system and method allows a physician to remotely change the settings of a medical device that is implanted in a patient who is physically separated from the patient. The physician uses a computer to remotely access the patient's computer and programs new settings for the medical device that is conveyed to an emulator which in turn conveys the settings to the medical device. Patients who have neurostimulators implanted in them are particularly suited to receive the benefits of the present invention.

Abstract: A system and method allows a physician to remotely change the settings of a medical device that is implanted in a patient who is physically separated from the patient. The physician uses a computer to remotely access the patient's computer and programs new settings for the medical device that is conveyed to an emulator which in turn conveys the settings to the medical device. Patients who have neurostimulators implanted in them are particularly suited to receive the benefits of the present invention.