Shunt and access port

• US 20050119602A1
• Filed: 09/17/2004
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daniele Rigamonti, Kieran P. Murphy, Michael Williams
• Original Assignee: Daniele Rigamonti, Kieran P. Murphy, Michael Williams
• Inventors: Williams, Michael, Murphy, Kieran P., Rigamonti, Daniele
• Application Number:
  US10/943,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20050119602A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3515 using magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0111 Aseptic insertion devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0208 Subcutaneous access sites for injecting or removing fluids transcutaneous access sites A61M39/0247; implantable infusion devices A61M5/14276

Abstract

A shunt for draining cerebral spinal fluid from the brain and an access port for use therein is provided. In an embodiment, the shunt includes a master control unit that is located in the abdomen, which interconnects a ventricular catheter and a second catheter, typically located in the peritoneal cavity. In a specific embodiment, the master control unit includes a variety of ‘smart’ features including at least one access port to allow the injection of solutions for the prevention or removal of blockages in the catheter, and/or antibiotics. The access port can have other uses, such as allowing a point of access for physical navigation of a catheter or the like within the shunt, thereby providing another option for breaking-up blockages, and/or allowing an access point for repairing the shunt'"'"'s components. Additionally, the master control unit includes a diagnostic unit that transmits, either wirelessly or through a wired connection via the access port, diagnostic information about the status of the patient and/or the shunt.

Claims

1. An access port for use with a shunt having a first catheter for insertion into a CSF space of a patient for receiving CSF and a second catheter for insertion into a drainage cavity and for draining said CSF, said first and second catheters being interconnected via a catheter line for draining CSF, said access port comprising:

a connection for locating said access port along said catheter line;

a chamber coupled to said connection and for passing CSF therethrough, said chamber having an opening oriented towards a periphery of a patient'"'"'s body when said access port is disposed subcutaneously in said patient, said opening for treatment of a condition associated with said shunt without requiring said shunt'"'"'s removal.

2. The access port according to claim 1 wherein said connection comprises a first attachment point for attachment to a first segment of said catheter line and a second attachment point for attachment to a second segment of said catheter line.

3. The access port according to claim 1 wherein said connection is configured to be spliced into said catheter line of an existing shunt in said patient.

4. The access port according to claim 1 wherein said connection further comprises a one-way valve.

5. The access port according to claim 1 wherein said condition is a blockage and said access port allows introduction of a blockage-ablation device within said catheter line for physically breaking-up said blockage.

6. The access port according to claim 5 wherein said blockage-ablation device is a micro-catheter with a tip suitable for piercing said blockage.

7. The access port according to claim 5 wherein said blockage-ablation device is a radio-frequency ablation device.

8. The access port according to claim 1 wherein said condition is a blockage and said access port allows injection of a solution for treatment thereof.

9. The access port according to claim 8 wherein said solution is an anticoagulant or a thrombolytic.

10. The access port according to claim 1 wherein said condition is an infection and said access port allows injection of a solution for treatment thereof.

11. The access port according to claim 10 wherein said solution is an antibiotic.

12. The access port according to claim 1 further comprising a self-healing plastic membrane.

13. The access port according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said access port has an antibiotic coating.

14. The access port according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said access port has an adhesion resistant coating.

15. The access port according to claim 1 wherein said CSF space is a ventricle.

16. The access port according to claim 1 wherein said drainage cavity is one of said patient'"'"'s peritoneum, pleural space or vascular space.

17. The access port according to claim 1 wherein said access port is connected to a master control unit for insertion into said patient in a biocompatible location, said master control unit interconnecting said first and second catheters via said catheter line, said master control unit having a regulator for selectively draining an excess of said CSF.

18. The access port according to claim 17 wherein said biocompatible location is one of said patient'"'"'s skull, chest cavity or abdomen.

19. The access port according to claim 17 wherein said regulator is a mechanical flow-valve regulator.

20. The access port according to claim 17 wherein said regulator is a microprocessor based valve-gauge assembly for determining when said CSF requires draining and allowing said CSF to drain from said ventricle to said drainage cavity.

21. The access port according to claim 20 wherein said microprocessor based valve-gauge assembly has a normally-open position to allow a preset amount of drainage of CSF in the event of a power-failure to valve-gauge assembly.

22. The access port according to claim 20 wherein said access port is connected to a transmitter that is connected to said valve-gauge assembly for gathering pressure information therefrom, said transmitter for reporting said pressure information to a receiver external to said patient.

23. The access port according to claim 1 wherein said access port is connected to a diagnostic unit for detecting abnormal metabolic activity within said patient, and a transmitter for delivering said activity to a receiver external to said patient.

24. The access port according to claim 23 wherein said transmitter is operable to perform said delivery wirelessly to said receiver.

25. The access port according to claim 23 wherein said transmitter includes a memory buffer for accumulating data from said diagnostic unit prior to said delivery.

26. The access port according to claim 17 wherein said access port is mounted on an exterior of said master control, said control unit further having a fluid bladder accessible via said access port for injection of at least one solution for treatment of a condition.

27. The access port according to claim 1 wherein said access port is located on said catheter line intermediate said first catheter and said second catheter.

28. The access port according to claim 1 wherein said access port is located on said catheter line intermediate a master control unit and said first catheter.

29. The access port according to claim 1 wherein said access port is located on said catheter line intermediate a master control unit and said second catheter.

30. The access port according to claim 1 further comprising a fluid bladder for injection of at least one solution for treatment of a condition.

31. The access port according to claim 30 wherein said condition is a blockage and said solution is an anticoagulant or a thrombolytic.

32. The access port according to claim 30 wherein said condition is an infection and said solution is an antibiotic.

33. The access port according to claim 30 wherein said fluid bladder further comprises a one-way valve.

34. A shunt for draining cerebral spinal fluid comprising:

a first catheter for insertion into a CSF space of a patient for receiving CSF;

a second catheter for insertion into a drainage cavity and for draining said CSF, said first and second catheters being interconnected via a catheter line; and

at least one access port intermediate said first catheter and said second catheter and for placement subcutaneously such that when inserted into said patient said access port provides a point of access to said shunt for allowing a treatment of a condition associated with said shunt without requiring said shunt'"'"'s removal.

35. The shunt according to claim 34 wherein said at least one access port further comprises a connection for locating said access port along said catheter line;

a chamber coupled to said connection and for passing CSF therethrough, said chamber having an opening oriented towards a periphery of a patient'"'"'s body when said access port is disposed subcutaneously in said patient.

36. The shunt according to claim 35 wherein said connection comprises a first attachment point for attachment to a first segment of said catheter line and a second attachment point for attachment to a second segment of said catheter line.

37. The shunt according to claim 35 wherein said connection is configured to be spliced into said catheter line.

38. The shunt according to claim 35 wherein said connection further comprises a one-way valve.

39. The shunt according to claim 34 wherein said CSF space is a ventricle.

40. The shunt according to claim 34 wherein said drainage cavity is one of said patient'"'"'s peritoneum, pleural space or vascular space.

41. The shunt according to claim 34 further comprising a master control unit for insertion into said patient in a biocompatible location, said master control unit interconnecting said first and second catheters via said catheter line, said master control unit having a regulator for selectively draining an excess of said CSF.

42. The shunt according to claim 41 wherein said biocompatible location is one of said patient'"'"'s skull, chest cavity or abdomen.

43. The shunt according to claim 41 wherein said regulator is a mechanical flow-valve regulator.

44. The shunt according to claim 41 wherein said regulator is a microprocessor based valve-gauge assembly for determining when said CSF requires draining and allowing said CSF to drain from said ventricle to said drainage cavity.

45. The shunt according to claim 44 wherein said microprocessor based valve-gauge assembly has a normally-open position to allow a preset amount of drainage of CSF in the event of a power-failure to valve-gauge assembly.

46. The shunt according to claim 44 further comprising a transmitter connected to said valve-gauge assembly for gathering pressure information therefrom, said transmitter for reporting said pressure information to a receiver external to said patient.

47. The shunt according to claim 34 further comprising a diagnostic unit for detecting abnormal metabolic activity within said patient, and a transmitter for delivering said activity to a receiver external to said patient.

48. The shunt according to claim 47 wherein said transmitter is operable to perform said delivery wirelessly to said receiver.

49. The shunt according to claim 47 wherein said transmitter includes a memory buffer for accumulating data from said diagnostic unit prior to said delivery.

50. The shunt according to claim 41 wherein said at least one access ports is mounted on an exterior of said master control, said control unit further having a fluid bladder accessible via said access port for injection of at least one solution for treatment of a condition.

51. The shunt according to claim 34 wherein said at least one access port is located on said catheter line intermediate a master control unit and said first catheter.

52. The shunt according to claim 34 wherein said at least one access port is located on said catheter line intermediate a master control unit and said second catheter.

53. The shunt according to claim 34 wherein said condition is a blockage and said at least one access port allows an introduction point for introduction of a blockage-ablation device within said catheter line for physically breaking-up said blockage.

54. The shunt according to claim 53 wherein said blockage-ablation device is a micro-catheter with a tip suitable for piercing said blockage.

55. The shunt according to claim 53 wherein said blockage-ablation device is a radio-frequency ablation device.

56. The shunt according to claim 34 wherein said condition is a blockage and said at least one access port allows injection of a solution for treatment thereof.

57. The shunt according to claim 56 wherein said solution is an anticoagulant or a thrombolytic.

58. The shunt according to claim 34 wherein said condition is an infection and said at least one access port allows injection of a solution for treatment thereof.

59. The shunt according to claim 58 wherein said solution is an antibiotic.

60. The shunt according to claim 34 wherein said at least one access port further comprises a fluid bladder for injection of at least one solution for treatment of a condition.

61. The shunt according to claim 34 wherein said at least one access port further comprises a self-healing plastic membrane.

62. The shunt according to claim 34 wherein at least a portion of said shunt has an antibiotic coating.

63. The shunt according to claim 34 wherein at least a portion of said shunt has an adhesion resistant coating.