Abstract: A system and method for intracranial access is disclosed. In particular, a drill stop is shown providing a way to control the penetration of a drill bit as an access hole into the brain is being formed. Access to a desired location is achieved using a catheter guide device. Also disclosed is a mechanism by which multiple diagnostic and treatment devices can be placed at a desired location in brain tissue without the need for more than one access hole. A drainage catheter is disclosed with a mechanism to allow both drainage and to allow intracranial pressure measurement.

Abstract: A system and method for intracranial access is disclosed. In particular, a drill stop is shown providing a way to control the penetration of a drill bit as an access hole into the brain is being formed. Access to a desired location is achieved using a catheter guide device. Also disclosed is a mechanism by which multiple diagnostic and treatment devices can be placed at a desired location in brain tissue without the need for more than one access hole. A drainage catheter is disclosed with a mechanism to allow both drainage and to allow intracranial pressure measurement.

Abstract: A powered or automatic air management system for measuring pressure from an air pressure catheter located within a patient. Powered pumps are included in a remote pump assembly to automatically adjust the air volume to a desired level. A pressure transducer assembly is located at the bed of the patient and is connected to an air catheter, and a separate pump assembly is fixed to an IV pole away from the patient and connected to a pressure monitor to display the pressure readings. By locating the pressure transducer to a location relatively close to the connection point of the catheter, more accurate pressure readings can be achieve.

Abstract: A system and method for intracranial access is disclosed. In particular, a drill stop is shown providing a way to control the penetration of a drill bit as an access hole into the brain is being formed. Access to a desired location is achieved using a catheter guide device. Also disclosed is a mechanism by which multiple diagnostic and treatment devices can be placed at a desired location in brain tissue without the need for more than one access hole. A drainage catheter is disclosed with a mechanism to allow both drainage and to allow intracranial pressure measurement.

Abstract: A powered or automatic air management system for measuring pressure from an air pressure catheter located within a patient. Powered pumps are included in a remote pump assembly to automatically adjust the air volume to a desired level. A pressure transducer assembly is located at the bed of the patient and is connected to an air catheter, and a separate pump assembly is fixed to an IV pole away from the patient and connected to a pressure monitor to display the pressure readings. By locating the pressure transducer to a location relatively close to the connection point of the catheter, more accurate pressure readings can be achieved.

Abstract: A system and method for intracranial access is disclosed. In particular, a drill stop is shown providing a way to control the penetration of a drill bit as an access hole into the brain is being formed. Access to a desired location is achieved using a catheter guide device. Also disclosed is a mechanism by which multiple diagnostic and treatment devices can be placed at a desired location in brain tissue without the need for more than one access hole. A drainage catheter is disclosed with a mechanism to allow both drainage and to allow intracranial pressure measurement.

Abstract: A system and method for intracranial access is disclosed. In particular, a drill stop is shown providing a way to control the penetration of a drill bit as an access hole into the brain is being formed. Access to a desired location is achieved using a catheter guide device. Also disclosed is a mechanism by which multiple diagnostic and treatment devices can be placed at a desired location in brain tissue without the need for more than one access hole. A drainage catheter is disclosed with a mechanism to allow both drainage and to allow intracranial pressure measurement.

Abstract: A powered or automatic air management system for measuring pressure from an air pressure catheter located within a patient. Powered pumps are included in a remote pump assembly to automatically adjust the air volume to a desired level. A pressure transducer assembly is located at the bed of the patient and is connected to an air catheter, and a separate pump assembly is fixed to an IV pole away from the patient and connected to a pressure monitor to display the pressure readings. By locating the pressure transducer to a location relatively close to the connection point of the catheter, more accurate pressure readings can be achieved.

Abstract: An air management system is described for removing and reintroducing a desired amount of air into an air passage of a pressure measurement catheter. More specifically, the system includes a cylindrical housing, check valves in communication with the housing and an moveable shaft with multiple sealing members along its length. As the shaft is moved within the housing, a piston member causes the residual air in the catheter air passage to be evacuated to a defined negative pressure. Further movement of the shaft causes a piston member to inject a predetermined volume of air into the catheter air passage. In this respect, periodic adjustments of the piston member returns the volume of air in a variable volume chamber to one that is unaffected by residual volume in the chamber and that provides an optimum volume of air to maximize the time the sensor can function accurately between recharging events.

Abstract: An air management system is described for removing and reintroducing a desired amount of air into an air passage of a pressure measurement catheter. More specifically, the system includes a cylindrical housing, check valves in communication with the housing and an moveable shaft with multiple sealing members along its length. As the shaft is moved within the housing, a piston member causes the residual air in the catheter air passage to be evacuated to a defined negative pressure. Further movement of the shaft causes a piston member to inject a predetermined volume of air into the catheter air passage. In this respect, periodic adjustments of the piston member returns the volume of air in a variable volume chamber to one that is unaffected by residual volume in the chamber and that provides an optimum volume of air to maximize the time the sensor can function accurately between recharging events.

Abstract: An air management system is described for removing and reintroducing a desired amount of air into an air passage of a pressure measurement catheter. More specifically, the system includes a cylindrical housing, check valves in communication with the housing and an moveable shaft with multiple sealing members along its length. As the shaft is moved within the housing, a piston member causes the residual air in the catheter air passage to be evacuated to a defined negative pressure. Further movement of the shaft causes a piston member to inject a predetermined volume of air into the catheter air passage. In this respect, periodic adjustments of the piston member returns the volume of air in a variable volume chamber to one that is unaffected by residual volume in the chamber and that provides an optimum volume of air to maximize the time the sensor can function accurately between recharging events.

Abstract: A bolt stop for use with an intracranial access bolt that assists in preventing penetration of the bolt into the skull, resists accidental rotation and movement of the bolt with in the skull, and facilitates healing of the scalp.

Abstract: A thin-walled, spiral-cut sleeve is placed on a portion of a ventricular catheter that may be moved into the compression fitting (or similar securing mechanism) of a bolt in a patient. The wall of the sleeve is sufficiently thick so as to prevent the compression fitting from collapsing the drainage lumen of the catheter. A spiral cut in the sleeve allows the sleeve to flex axially, reducing torque forces on the bolt.

Abstract: An outflow line is connected to an infusion pump that is programmed to run at a fixed rate. The outflow line has a bypass line that leads from the pump outlet back to the pump inlet. A line downstream of the entrance to the bypass line leads to the patient. The system has two valves. The fluid en route to the patient passes through the first valve. The bypass line passes through the second valve. When one valve is open, the other is closed. The valves' flow states are controlled by a signal from a control instrument. The system allows the pump output to be directed to the patient or to a bypass circuit that returns fluid leaving the pump back to the pump inlet. The system makes it possible to vary the amount of fluid delivered to a patient by an infusion pump set at a constant pumping rate by varying the open and closed state of valves in response to a signal from a patient monitoring instrument.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for efficiently coupling a pressure monitoring device to a pressure transducer. In addition, the present invention reduces or eliminates the likelihood air will be unintentionally injected into the pressure monitoring device while connecting the pressure monitoring device to a pressure transducer. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a pressure monitoring coupler comprising a sealing member and a device body. The sealing member comprises a sealing flange connected to an engagement member. The engagement member includes a first and second O-ring positioned thereon. The device body comprises a pressurizing lumen and an intersecting monitoring lumen in communication with a receiving aperture. During use, a pressure monitoring catheter is inserted into a patient's tissue. The pressure monitoring catheter and a transducer are connected to the device body of the present invention.

Abstract: A system and method for intracranial access is disclosed. In particular, a drill stop is shown providing a way to control the penetration of a drill bit as an access hole into the brain is being formed. Access to a desired location is achieved using a catheter guide device. Also disclosed is a mechanism by which multiple diagnostic and treatment devices can be placed at a desired location in brain tissue without the need for more than one access hole. A drainage catheter is disclosed with a mechanism to allow both drainage and to allow intracranial pressure measurement.

Abstract: A system and method for intracranial access is disclosed. In particular, a drill stop is shown providing a way to control the penetration of a drill bit as an access hole into the brain is being formed. Access to a desired location is achieved using a catheter guide device. Also disclosed is a mechanism by which multiple diagnostic and treatment devices can be placed at a desired location in brain tissue without the need for more than one access hole. A drainage catheter is disclosed with a mechanism to allow both drainage and to allow intracranial pressure measurement.

Abstract: An air management system is described for removing and reintroducing a desired amount of air into an air passage of a pressure measurement catheter. More specifically, the system includes a cylindrical housing, check valves in communication with the housing and an moveable shaft with multiple sealing members along its length. As the shaft is moved within the housing, a piston member causes the residual air in the catheter air passage to be evacuated to a defined negative pressure. Further movement of the shaft causes a piston member to inject a predetermined volume of air into the catheter air passage. In this respect, periodic adjustments of the piston member returns the volume of air in a variable volume chamber to one that is unaffected by residual volume in the chamber and that provides an optimum volume of air to maximize the time the sensor can function accurately between recharging events.

Abstract: A pressure sensor assembly is disclosed which includes a flaccid tube having two mounting sleeve members that bond the tube to a distal end of a catheter. The catheter includes an aperture located beneath the tube and in communication with an air passage. As the pressure outside the tube changes, the tube moves relative to the catheter body, thereby communicating that pressure change to the sealed air passage within the catheter. This air passage is connected to an external transducer that can measure this pressure change and thereby determine a pressure at the distal end of the pressure catheter.

Abstract: A catheter is provided that includes multiple passages within a catheter body. These passages are arranged in a way so as to maximize the usable space within the catheter body. More specifically, multiple tubes are positioned within a central lumen of the catheter. Both the tubes and the central lumen are used as passages for various functionality of the catheter, such as communication of air or fluids. By sharing the free space within the central lumen of the catheter, the flow area of this passage is maximized as compared with simply using an extruded lumen for each passage. Hence, the catheter can allow the addition of more passages than similarly sized prior art catheters.