114 results about "Subarachnoid space" patented technology

A method treats a patient for adult-onset dementia of the Alzheimer's type by removing a portion of the patient's cerebrospinal fluid, preferably (although not necessarily) by transporting the fluid to another portion of the patient's body. An apparatus for removing cerebrospinal fluid includes (1) a conduit with a first opening and a second opening, the first opening of the conduit being disposed in fluid communication with a space within a patient's subarachnoid space, the second opening being disposed in fluid communication with another portion of the patient's body; and (2) a flow rate control device attached to the conduit.

The present invention relates to a method of prevention and treatment of narrowing of cerebral blood vessels after subarachnoid hemorrhage, and in particular, to a method of applying electrical energy through electrical stimulation electrodes particularly positioned in the cervical region of a patient to affect the sympathetic tone of the blood vessels supplying the brain.

Methods and apparatus for treating hydrocephalus caused by obstructions in the ventricular system and subarachnoid space of the brain. Embodiments include medical devices and methods for use within the subarachnoid space of the central nervous system to gain access to and treat an obstruction within the ventricles of the brain or a subarachnoid hemorrhage. The obstruction may be aspirated by an aspiration catheter for use in the subarachnoid space. A subarachnoid delivery catheter may then be used to deliver an intraventricular shunt to the opening in the obstruction via the subarachnoid space. A distal end of the delivery catheter is navigated across the obstruction to deploy the intraventricular shunt therein. The intraventricular shunt so positioned reopens the pathway between the ventricles and permits the return of normal cerebrospinal fluid flow there through.

Biocompatible liquid is pumped into a body cavity (eg. subarachnoid space, peritoneum, mediastinum, pleural space) by means of one pump and removed from it by means a second pump, preferably via a double-barreled catheter is used for insertion and removal of the liquid. An optional secondary catheter removes liquid from a distal area of the body cavity. Temperature and pressure are sensed within the cavity and can be controlled by adjusting liquid flow rates. While outside the body, the liquid can be ultraviolet-sterilized, foam fractionated to remove contaminants, oxygenated and pH balanced, cooled or warmed, and augmented with exogenous liquid that may contain drugs.

The invention relates to a processing system of a CT image, which comprises a CT image acquiring module, an interesting region estimating module, a characteristic extracting module, an abnormal signal identifying module and a displaying module. The CT image acquiring module is used for acquiring a head CT image subjected to brain tissue segmentation; the interesting region estimating module is used for estimating an interesting region of subarachnoid space to the head CT image; the characteristic extracting module is used for extracting the characteristic to the head CT image subjected to the estimation of the interesting region to acquire a characteristic value; the abnormal signal identifying module is used for identifying whether an abnormal signal is included in the interesting region according to the characteristic value by using a method of mode identification; and the displaying module is used for displaying the identified result and the interesting region in which the abnormal signal exists. The invention also relates to a processing method of the CT image. The invention can display a position in which the abnormal signal exists, which is referred by medical staffs, so as to reduce misdiagnosis/missed diagnosis rate of the subarachnoid space hemorrhage.

A method for increasing cerebral blood flow in a patient. A electrical stimulating device is provided. The electrical stimulating device is applied to the patient at a region adjacent the cervical sympathetic chain, the brain stem, the head, or the sympathetic nervous system. The electrical stimulating device is applied by any route selected from transcutaneous, subcutaneous, and subarachnoid. The electrical stimulating device is activated to stimulate or inhibit nerve impulses of the cervical sympathetic chain, thereby producing vasodilation in the cerebral vasculature, thereby increasing cerebral blood flow. Devices for increasing cerebral blood flow in a patient are also described.

The invention provides a medical device having a thermister for temperature measurement, irrigation/aspiration ports for fluid exchange and application of therapeutic modalities, a pressure manometer for pressure measurement, and an external system for control of temperature, pressure, and flow rate. When applied to the central nervous system (CNS), this device can be used in hypothermia or hyperthermia applications, the exchange of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), the application of treatment modalities, and the insertion of a ventriculostomy or ventriculostomy-like unit. When applied to spinal cord applications, this device can provide temperature control and a method for application of treatment modalities by using a venting device placed in the space surrounding the spinal cord, a device with similar instrumentation to measure temperature and pressure. A device for ultrasound localization of the CNS device is described. A device for a fiber optic endoscope for visualization and localization is also described. Method of using the devices in treating patients suffering from cardiac arrest, circulatory arrest, exsanguination, head or neck trauma, strokes, tumors and other intracranial diseases are disclosed. In the case of hypothermia treatment of the brain, rapid cooling using principles of convection and conduction will be applied to the lateral ventricle and subarachnoid and/or subdural space simultaneously where the neurons are located in close proximity.

Methods and devices are provided for shunting fluid to treat hydrocephalous, and in particular for treating normal pressure hydrocephalous, or Alzheimer's, Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH), or any other condition in which it is necessary to drain and/or cleanse CSF. The methods and devices utilize a shunt having an inlet port, and outlet port, and a flow control component for controlling fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port. The shunt can be implanted at a location along or within a patient's spinal column. In one exemplary embodiment, an inlet port of a shunt can be implanted within the subarachnoid space, and an outlet port of a shunt can be implanted at a drainage site. In certain exemplary embodiments, the cerebrospinal fluid is drained into the epidural space.

An implantable shunt device for draining cerebrospinal fluid from a patient's subarachnoid space. The device includes a shunt having opposed first and second ends. A one-way valve is located at the first end of the shunt. A helical tip is disposed at the second end. The helical tip is constructed to penetrate a sinus wall of the patient. Upon implantation, a hollow passageway extends between the helical tip and one-way valve such that fluid can be drained through the helical tip and out through the valve. The endovascular cerebrospinal fluid shunt of the present invention can be placed into a patient percutaneously via a catheter inserted into the venous system of the body through a needle hole, without the need for open surgery and the skin incisions required with current shunt devices. The device also allows for more physiologic drainage of cerebrospinal fluid since the device is shunting cerebrospinal fluid into the same cerebral venous system that occurs naturally in normal people.

The present invention is directed to method and system for delivery of brain-targeted drugs to the cerebrospinal fluid via the perilymphatic fluid of the inner ear. The system utilizes the passage of cochlear aqueduct as a drug delivery route from the inner ear to the subarachnoid space of the brain. The delivery system includes an otological conduit which enables transfer of drugs from the auditory ear canal to the inner ear and a wearable dispenser for supplying drugs to the otological conduit. The drug composition comprises a suspension of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) which facilitate delivery through the cochlear aqueduct. Employing aspects of present invention, a method and system for treating chronic pain is described.

An implantable system for the treatment of hydrocephalus includes a plurality of microneedles in a fixed array relative to each other adapted to extend from the subarachnoid space containing CSF surrounding the brain, through dura mater forming the wall of the superior sagital sinus. A microvalve is associated with a proximal end of each of the microneedles and is adapted to permit the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the subarachnoid space through the wall of the superior sagital sinus and deposited in the venous return of the brain. The method of treating hydrocephalus with the system of this invention also constitutes a part of the invention.

This invention is for a method of treatment of rabies once the patient develops signs and symptoms of rabies with the intent to save the patients from death and disability using insulin combined with various anti rabies viral therapeutic, pharmaceutical, biochemical, and biological agents or compounds with added supportive therapies administered through OM, SAS, IVB, IV, and IA routes. An embodiment provides devices for intranasal delivery of therapeutic agents to olfactory mucosal area. Another embodiment uses the technology to deliver the therapeutic, pharmaceutical, biochemical, and biological agents or compounds to the subarachnoid space and ventricular system by using continuous catheters and Ommaya reservoir at the same time. The present method incorporates breaking the blood brain barrier to allow the entry of the anti rabies therapeutic agents into the neuropile. Additionally, an embodiment incorporates cooling of the brain and inducing hibernation to preserve the brain from damage due to rabies.

A composition and method for treating and preventing injury to central nervous system tissue are provided. The composition is comprised of agents that can increase colloidal osmotic pressure and osmolality. The method comprise of: a). Withdrawing cerebrospinal fluid from the subarachnoid spaces around the tissue to be treated or protected and b). Injecting the composition into subarachnoid spaces.

By introducing hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) gene and/or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene into the subarachnoid space in humans, cerebrovascular disorders such as cerebrovascular obstruction, cerebral infarction, cerebral thrombosis, cerebral embolism, stroke, cerebral bleeding, moyamoya disease, cerebrovascular dementia, and Alzheimer's dementia can be effectively treated or prevented.

The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) contains low concentration of albumin and insulin because of the blood-CSF barrier. This is the major reason for cerebral edema and the resultant blood perfusion deficit when brain or spinal cord is injured. A composition and method for treating brain and spinal cord are provided. The composition includes magnesium, colloidal osmotic agent, insulin and ATP in artificial CSF. The method includes withdrawing a volume of cerebrospinal fluid from the subarachnoid space and infusing the invented composition.

Methods and devices are disclosed for providing access through tissue to a surgical site, such as anatomical cavities ranging in size from the abdomen to small blood vessels, such as veins and arteries, epidural, pleural and subarachnoid spaces, heart ventricles, as well as spinal and synovial cavities. In one exemplary embodiment, an access port is provided having one or more electrically expandable and contractible actuators that are adapted to change an orientation of the access port.

The disclosure relates to the discovery that certain cerebrovascular disorders in humans who exhibit seemingly normal intracranial pressure (ICP) and do not exhibit hydrocephalus can be alleviated or prevented by reducing ICP in the human. Disorders of this type are herein designated normotensive, nonhydrocephalus tenso-responsive cerebrovascular disorder (NNTCDs). The disclosure describes methods of relieving head pain and other symptoms of NNTCDs, for example by withdrawing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the subarachnoid space of a human or by administering a pharmaceutical agent that modulates CSF production, uptake, or both. Methods of assessing whether a human is afflicted with one or more NNTCDs are also described. The disclosure describes numerous pharmaceutical compositions suitable for administration to humans afflicted with NNTCDs to alleviate or prevent such disorders. Such compositions can, for example, include both a CSF-reducing agent and a symptomatic (e.g., head pain) relief agent.

Methods and devices are provided for shunting fluid to treat hydrocephalous, and in particular for treating normal pressure hydrocephalous, or Alzheimer's, Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH), or any other condition in which it is necessary to drain and/or cleanse CSF. The methods and devices utilize a shunt having an inlet port, and outlet port, and a flow control component for controlling fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port. The shunt can be implanted at a location along or within a patient's spinal column. In one exemplary embodiment, an inlet port of a shunt can be implanted within the subarachnoid space, and an outlet port of a shunt can be implanted at a drainage site. In certain exemplary embodiments, the cerebrospinal fluid is drained into the epidural space.

Devices are provided for shunting fluid to treat hydrocephalous, and in particular for treating normal pressure hydrocephalous, or Alzheimer's, Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH), or any other condition in which it is necessary to drain and/or cleanse CSF. The devices utilize a shunt having an inlet port, and outlet port, and a flow control component for controlling fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port. The shunt can be implanted at a location along or within a patient's spinal column. In one exemplary embodiment, an inlet port of a shunt can be implanted within the subarachnoid space, and an outlet port of a shunt can be implanted at a drainage site. In certain exemplary embodiments, the cerebrospinal fluid is drained into the epidural space.