Cerebrospinal fluid purification system

• US 8,435,204 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2007
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neurofluidics, Inc. (Minnetronix Medical, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Neurofluidics, Inc. (Minnetronix Medical, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lad, Shivanand, Mobley, William C., Nikolich, Karoly, Saul, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Hand, Melanie
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lo, Andrew S
• Application Number:
  US12/444,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20100305492A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,037 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 604/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3679 by absorption A61M1/3675 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0007 Epidural catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2027/004 with at least a part of the circuit outside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0021 removed from and reintroduced into the body, e.g. after treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0464 Cerebrospinal fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/203 Bacteria
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/206 Viruses
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/16 Rotating swirling helical flow, e.g. by tangential inflows
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0693 Brain, cerebrum
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1003 Spinal column
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0026 Multi-lumen catheters with stationary elements catheter assemblies comprising a catheter in combination with a guide tube, sheath or sleeve A61M2025/0681; catheters comprising telescoping coaxial elements A61M2025/0175
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/006 Cerebrospinal drainage; Accessories therefor, e.g. valves

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and systems for conditioning cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by removing target compounds from CSF. A multilumen flow path allows exchange of a majority volume portion of CSF in the CSF space. The removal and/or delivery of specific compounds can be tailored to the pathology of the specific disease. The removal is targeted and specific, for example, through the use of specific size-exclusion thresholds, antibodies against specific toxins, and other chromatographic techniques, as well as delivery and/or removal of targeted therapeutic agents.

Claims

1. A method for ameliorating a symptom of cerebral vasospasm in a patient, said method comprising:

selecting a patient having the symptom of cerebral vasospasm;

removing cerebrospinal fluid from a first location in a lumbar cerebrospinal fluid space of the patient;

removing at least one of erythrocytes, hemoglobin, oxyhemoglobin and endothelin from the removed cerebrospinal fluid, thereby conditioning the cerebrospinal fluid at a flow rate; and

returning the conditioned cerebrospinal fluid to the patient at a second location in a cervical cerebrospinal fluid space or ventricle of the patient, wherein the cerebrospinal fluid is returned to the patient at substantially the same flow rate at which it is removed;

wherein the removing and returning steps are performed concurrently using a catheter having a first lumen with a first proximal port at the first location and a second lumen having a second distal port at the second location during at least a portion of a conditioning treatment.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the flow rate is in a range from 0.04 ml/min to 30 ml/min.

3. A method as in claim 2, wherein a volume of cerebrospinal fluid removed from the patient never exceeds 40 ml.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the second location is in the cervical cerebrospinal fluid space.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein the second location is in the ventricle of a brain.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein flow directions of removing and returning cerebrospinal fluid are periodically reversed so that CSF is returned to the first location and removed from the second location during a portion of the treatment.

7. A method as in claim 6, wherein the flow reversal is a pulse to dislodge debris from removal or return ports.

8. A method as in claim 1, further comprising mixing the conditioned cerebrospinal fluid with endogenous cerebrospinal fluid as the conditioned cerebrospinal fluid is returned to the cerebrospinal fluid space.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein mixing comprises inducing a turbulent flow as the conditioned cerebrospinal fluid is returned.

10. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of isolating the at least one of erythrocytes, hemoglobin, oxyhemoglobin and endothelin.

11. A method as in claim 1, wherein conditioning comprises one or more separation processes selected from the group consisting of biospecific affinity, immunoaffinity, cationic exchange, anionic exchange, hydrophobicity and size exclusion.

12. A method as in claim 1, wherein the conditioning step is performed externally to the patient'"'"'s body.