Abstract: A wound closure apparatus and a method for its use are described. The apparatus includes a trilumen tubular member dimensioned to be positioned within a blood vessel through a conventional catheter sheath introducer. A mesh assembly extends longitudinally through the center lumen of the tubular member to position an expandable mesh portion within the vessel. The expandable mesh portion can be configured between a collapsed condition and an expanded condition by the attending surgeon or other medical personnel. Sutures are deposited into the blood vessel by a pair of medical needles inserted through the vessel wall adjacent the wound so that the leading ends of the sutures are deposited directly into the expandable mesh portion and are captured therein. The leading ends of the sutures can be withdrawn from the vessel through the center lumen of the trilumen body and pulled outside of the wound area where the surgeon can tie the ends thereof to close and seal the vessel wound.

Abstract: An implantable drainage device for the treatment of hydrocephalus is described. The device operates like a combination of three valves including a first pressure regulation valve in series with an assembly having a flow regulation valve in parallel with a second pressure regulation valve. The device allows cerebrospinal fluid communication between a source location in the brain and a drainage location when the pressure differential therebetween exceeds a first predetermined threshold. Above the first predetermined threshold, the device opens to allow a flow of cerebrospinal fluid therethrough, maintaining a substantially constant pressure differential across the device. When the pressure differential is between the first predetermined threshold and a second, higher, predetermined threshold a substantially constant flow rate is maintained.