Spinal CSF Shunt Catheter Assembly With Expandable Flange Anchoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing CSF diversion technologies, such as shunts, require invasive surgery and have high revision rates, posing risks of subarachnoid hemorrhage and injury to critical brain structures, with limited implantation sites and potential catastrophic consequences.

Innovation Solution

A minimally invasive endovascular approach is developed to access the intradural spinal space, using a shunt catheter device with expandable flanges and a catheter that navigates through the venous system to create a fluid passageway for CSF drainage, avoiding direct spinal cord or nerve rootlet damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional shunt implantation is performed through skull vein into subarachnoid space, then CSF diversion is achieved, but risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage and injury to brainstem/cranial nerves increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety of shunt implantationVSAvoidrisk of subarachnoid hemorrhage and neural injury

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional shunt implantation approach by accessing the intradural space from the venous system rather than from the skull exterior. The catheter is introduced through a vein in the skull and advanced into the intradural space, reversing the conventional direction of access and reducing exposure of critical brain structures during implantation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses the venous system as an intermediary pathway to reach the intradural space. Instead of directly accessing the subarachnoid space from the skull exterior, the procedure utilizes veins as a safe conduit, allowing the catheter to navigate through the venous system to reach the target location without directly traversing through or near critical neural structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If invasive spine or brain surgery is performed for shunt implantation, then CSF diversion is achieved, but surgical complexity and revision rates increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedurability of shunt implantationVSAvoidsurgical procedure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical surgical procedures with a less invasive endovascular approach. Instead of performing open spine or brain surgery to implant shunts, the procedure uses catheter-based techniques delivered through the venous system, substituting major surgical mechanics with minimally invasive interventional techniques

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the shunt system into modular components including a catheter, flanges for anchoring, and a shunt mechanism that can be delivered separately through the venous system. This segmentation allows for staged implantation and reduces the complexity of any single surgical step while maintaining overall system functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If limited implantation sites are used for shunt placement, then procedure simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different patient anatomies is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of implantation procedureVSAvoidflexibility of implantation site selection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal access method that can be applied to multiple anatomical locations through the venous system. The endovascular approach allows the same catheter delivery system to access different intradural spaces (cervical, thoracic, lumbar) by navigating through the venous system to different levels, providing multi-functionality and adaptability while maintaining procedural simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20260007867A1Cerebrospinal fluid shunt devices and methods

Publication Date: 2026.01.08 MAYO FOUNDATION FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION & RESEARCH

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a shunt catheter assembly for draining cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) into a venous system of a lower spinal region. The shunt catheter assembly includes a sheath having an interior volume, a catheter disposed in the interior volume of the sheath and movable relative to the sheath, a first flange coupled to the catheter and disposed between the catheter and the sheath, and a second flange proximally located relative to the first flange and disposed between the catheter and the sheath. The first and second flanges are expandable between a compressed configuration when the first and second flanges are disposed in the interior volume of the sheath, and an expanded configuration when the first and second flanges are externally disposed relative to the sheath. The first flange is separably deliverable relative to the second flange.