Endovascular cerebrospinal fluid shunt

Abstract

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.

1 . An implantable shunt device for draining cerebrospinal fluid from a patient's subarachnoid space, the device comprising:
 a shunt having opposed first and second ends;   a one-way valve located at the first end of the shunt;   a helical tip disposed at the second end, said helical tip being constructed to penetrate a sinus wall of the patient; and   a hollow passageway extending between the helical tip and one-way valve such that cerebrospinal fluid can be drained through the helical tip and out through the valve.   
     
     
         2 . The shunt of  claim 1 , wherein the helical tip includes a plurality of apertures into which the cerebrospinal fluid enters the tip. 
     
     
         3 . The shunt of  claim 1 , wherein the shunt includes an antithrombic coating. 
     
     
         4 . An implantable system for draining cerebrospinal fluid from a patient's subarachnoid space, the system comprising:
 a shunt having opposed first and second ends, a one-way valve located at the first end of the shunt, and a helical tip disposed at the second end, said helical tip being constructed to penetrate a sinus wall of the patient, wherein the first and second ends are in fluid communication to enable the cerebrospinal fluid to be drained through the helical tip and out through the valve; and   a catheter for delivering and implanting the shunt into the sinus wall.   
     
     
         5 . A method for draining cerebrospinal fluid from a patient's subarachnoid space, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a shunt having opposed first and second ends, a one-way valve located at the first end of the shunt, and a helical tip disposed at the second end, said helical tip being constructed to penetrate a sinus wall of the patient, wherein the first and second ends are in fluid communication to enable the cerebrospinal fluid to be drained through the helical tip and out through the valve;   delivering the shunt to the sinus wall;   implanting the helical tip in the sinus wall of the patient; and   draining cerebrospinal fluid from the patient.   
     
     
         6 . An implantable shunt device for draining fluid from a patient's subarachnoid space, the device comprising:
 a shunt having opposed first and second ends;   a one-way valve located at the first end of the shunt; and   a helical tip disposed at the second end, said helical tip being constructed to penetrate tissue of the patient; and   a hollow passageway extending between the helical tip and one-way valve such that fluid can be drained through the helical tip and out through the valve.