Method of draining cerebrospinal fluid
First Claim
1. A method of draining cerebrospinal fluid from a human brain, the method comprising:
- providing a drainage catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the drainage catheter has a plurality of openings formed therein, wherein the plurality of openings includes a first opening, a second opening, and a most proximal opening, wherein the second opening is disposed closer to the distal end than the first opening and wherein a cross-sectional area of the first opening is less than a cross-sectional area of the second opening;
inserting the distal end of the drainage catheter into a human brain;
diverting excess cerebrospinal fluid from the human brain, wherein the cerebrospinal fluid passes into the drainage catheter through the plurality of openings and out of the drainage catheter through the proximal end; and
distributing the draining of the cerebrospinal fluid between the plurality of openings, wherein the distributed flow of cerebrospinal fluid delays or prevents occlusion of the catheter caused by choroid plexus tissue being drawn into the plurality of openings.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of draining cerebrospinal fluid from a human brain. The method includes providing a drainage catheter having a proximal end and a distal end. The drainage catheter has a plurality of openings formed therein. The plurality of openings includes a first opening, a second opening, and a most proximal opening. The second opening is disposed closer to the distal end than the first opening. A cross-sectional area of the first opening is less than a cross-sectional area of the second opening. The distal end of the drainage catheter is inserted into a human brain. Cerebrospinal fluid is drained from the human brain. The cerebrospinal fluid passes into the drainage catheter through the plurality of openings and out of the drainage catheter through the proximal end. A rate at which the cerebrospinal fluid passes through the drainage catheter is controlled to maintain intracranial pressure within a selected range.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of draining cerebrospinal fluid from a human brain, the method comprising:
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providing a drainage catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the drainage catheter has a plurality of openings formed therein, wherein the plurality of openings includes a first opening, a second opening, and a most proximal opening, wherein the second opening is disposed closer to the distal end than the first opening and wherein a cross-sectional area of the first opening is less than a cross-sectional area of the second opening; inserting the distal end of the drainage catheter into a human brain; diverting excess cerebrospinal fluid from the human brain, wherein the cerebrospinal fluid passes into the drainage catheter through the plurality of openings and out of the drainage catheter through the proximal end; and distributing the draining of the cerebrospinal fluid between the plurality of openings, wherein the distributed flow of cerebrospinal fluid delays or prevents occlusion of the catheter caused by choroid plexus tissue being drawn into the plurality of openings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification