Drug delivery systems and methods

Abstract

Drug delivery systems and methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a drug delivery system can be configured to deliver a drug to a patient in coordination with a physiological parameter of the patient (e.g., the patient's natural cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pulsation or the patient's heart or respiration rate). In some embodiments, a drug delivery system can be configured to use a combination of infusion and aspiration to control delivery of a drug to a patient. Catheters, controllers, and other components for use in the above systems are also disclosed, as are various methods of using such systems.

1 .- 69 . (canceled) 
     
     
         70 . A method of delivering a drug to a patient, the method comprising:
 inserting a delivery device into an intrathecal space of the patient;   measuring a natural intrathecal pulsation and a cardiac rate of the patient;   determining a correlation between the natural intrathecal pulsation and the cardiac rate of the patient; and   infusing a drug through the delivery device and into the intrathecal space based on an estimated intrathecal pulsation based on a measured cardiac rate during infusion, wherein the drug is infused in a pulsatile manner.