Implantable Devices and Related Methods for Monitoring Properties of Cerebrospinal Fluid

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an implantable device for monitoring properties of cerebrospinal fluid of a patient. In one embodiment, the device may include a housing, a processor, a support member, one or more sensors, and a data storage. The sensors may be in communication with the processor and configured to detect one or more properties of cerebrospinal fluid. The device may be configured for transmitting the data and receiving instructions by an operator for the delivery of a therapeutic agent or imaging agent from a reservoir disposed within the housing in operable communication with a pump.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for implanting a device for monitoring properties of cerebrospinal fluid of a patient, the method comprising:
 attaching a housing of the device to the patient;   moving at least a portion of a support member of the device relative to the housing, the support member extending from the housing; and   positioning one or more sensors of the device within a target region of the patient, the one or more sensors configured to detect one or more properties of cerebrospinal fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein attaching the housing to the patient comprises:
 positioning the housing at least partially within a hole formed in a cranium of the patient;   and attaching the housing to the cranium.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein attaching the housing to the patient comprises:
 positioning the housing at least partially within a hole formed in a spine of the patient; and   attaching the housing to the spine.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the support member is flexible, and wherein moving the at least a portion of the support member relative to the housing comprises bending the at least a portion of the support member. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein positioning the one or more sensors within the target region comprises positioning the one or more sensors within an epidural space of the patient. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein positioning the one or more sensors within the target region comprises positioning the one or more sensors within a subdural space of the patient. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein positioning the one or more sensors within the target region comprises positioning the one or more sensors within a subarachnoid space of the patient. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein positioning the one or more sensors within the target region comprises positioning the one or more sensors within parenchymal tissue of a brain of the patient. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein positioning the one or more sensors within the target region comprises positioning the one or more sensors within a ventricle of a brain of the patient. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise:
 a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure of cerebrospinal fluid;   a flow sensor configured to detect a flow velocity of cerebrospinal fluid; and   at least one of: (i) a viscosity sensor configured to detect a viscosity of cerebrospinal fluid;   (ii) a biochemical sensor configured to detect one or more biomarkers of chronic neurological diseases; (iii) a polsoxymetry sensor configured to detect oxygen saturation;   and (iv) a Raman spectroscopy sensor configured to detect a molecular composition of cerebrospinal fluid.   
     
     
         11 . A method for monitoring properties of cerebrospinal fluid of a patient, the method comprising:
 implanting a monitoring device within the patient, the monitoring device comprising:   a housing;   a processor disposed within the housing;   a plurality of sensors disposed outside of the housing and configured to move relative to the housing, the plurality of sensors in operable communication with the processor; and   a data storage disposed within the housing and in operable communication with the processor;   detecting, by the plurality of sensors, one or more properties of cerebrospinal fluid of the patient; and   storing, at the data storage, cerebrospinal fluid data corresponding to the one or more properties.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein implanting the monitoring device within the patient comprises attaching the housing to a cranium of the patient or a spine of the patient. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein implanting the monitoring device within the patient comprises:
 moving the plurality of sensors relative to the housing; and   positioning the plurality of sensors within a target region of the patient.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein positioning the plurality of sensors within the target region comprises: (i) positioning the plurality of sensors within an epidural space of the patient; (ii) positioning the plurality of sensors within a subdural space of the patient; (iii) positioning the plurality of sensors within a subarachnoid space of the patient; (iv) positioning the plurality of sensors within parenchymal tissue of a brain of the patient; or (v) positioning the plurality of sensors within a ventricle of the brain of the patient. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the monitoring device further comprises a positional sensor disposed within the housing and in operable communication with the processor, the method further comprising:
 detecting, by the positional sensor, a positional orientation of the patient; and   storing, at the data storage, positional data in association with the cerebrospinal fluid data.   
     
     
         16 . A method for monitoring properties of cerebrospinal fluid of a patient, the method comprising:
 implanting a monitoring device within the patient, the monitoring device comprising:   a housing;   a processor disposed within the housing;   one or more sensors disposed outside of the housing and in operable communication with the processor;   a data storage disposed within the housing and in operable communication with the processor; and   a power generation device attached to the housing and in operable communication with the processor and the one or more sensors;   generating, by the power generation device, power for powering the processor and the one or more sensors;   detecting, by the one or more sensors, one or more properties of cerebrospinal fluid of the patient; and   storing, at the data storage, cerebrospinal fluid data corresponding to the one or more properties.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein implanting the monitoring device within the patient comprises attaching the housing to a cranium of the patient or a spine of the patient. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein generating the power for powering the processor and the one or more sensors comprises generating the power based at least in part on at least one of: (i) cerebrospinal fluid flow within the patient; (ii) dural pulsations within the patient; (iii) vascular pulsations within the patient; and (iv) cranial movements of the patient. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the monitoring device further comprises a positional sensor disposed within the housing and in operable communication with the processor, the method further comprising:
 generating, by the power generation device, power for powering the positional sensor;   detecting, by the positional sensor, a positional orientation of the patient; and   storing, at the data storage, positional data in association with the cerebrospinal fluid data.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the monitoring device further comprises a power storage device in operable communication with the processor, the one or more sensors, and the power generation device, the method further comprising:
 charging, by the power generation device, the power storage device; and   powering, by the power storage device, the processor and the one or more sensors.   
     
     
         21 . A method for monitoring properties of cerebrospinal fluid of a patient, the method comprising:
 implanting a first monitoring device at least partially within a cranium of the patient, the first monitoring device comprising:   a first housing;   a first processor disposed within the first housing;   one or more first sensors disposed outside of the first housing and in operable communication with the first processor; and   a first data storage disposed within the first housing and in operable communication with the first processor;   implanting a second monitoring device at least partially within a spine of the patient, the second monitoring device comprising:   a second housing;   a second processor disposed within the second housing;   one or more second sensors disposed outside of the second housing and in operable communication with the second processor; and   a second data storage disposed within the second housing and in operable communication with the second processor;   detecting, by the one or more first sensors, one or more first properties of cerebrospinal fluid within the cranium of the patient;   storing, at the first data storage, first cerebrospinal fluid data corresponding to the one or more first properties;   detecting, by the one or more second sensors, one or more second properties of cerebrospinal fluid within the spine of the patient;   storing, at the second data storage, second cerebrospinal fluid data corresponding to the one or more second properties.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein implanting the first monitoring device at least partially within the cranium of the patient comprises positioning the one or more first sensors within the cranium, and wherein implanting the second monitoring device at least partially within the spine of the patient comprises positioning the one or more second sensors within the spine. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein positioning the one or more first sensors within the cranium comprises: (i) positioning the one or more first sensors within an epidural space of the cranium; (ii) positioning the one or more first sensors within a subdural space of the cranium; (iii) positioning the one or more first sensors within a subarachnoid space of the cranium; (iv) positioning the one or more first sensors within parenchymal tissue of a brain of the patient; or (v) positioning the one or more first sensors within a ventricle of the brain of the patient. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein positioning the one or more second sensors within the spine comprises: (i) positioning the one or more second sensors within a subarachnoid space of the spine; or (ii) positioning the one or more second sensors within a central canal of the spine. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more first sensors comprise a first pressure sensor configured to detect a first pressure of cerebrospinal fluid within the cranium, and wherein the one or more second sensors comprise a second pressure sensor configured to detect a second pressure of cerebrospinal fluid within the spine. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the one or more first sensors further comprise at least one of: (i) a first flow sensor configured to detect a first flow velocity of cerebrospinal fluid within the cranium; (ii) a first viscosity sensor configured to detect a first viscosity of cerebrospinal fluid within the cranium; (iii) a first biochemical sensor configured to detect one or more biomarkers of chronic neurological diseases within the cranium; (iv) a first polsoxymetry sensor configured to detect oxygen saturation within the cranium; and (v) a first Raman spectroscopy sensor configured to detect a first molecular composition of cerebrospinal fluid within the cranium, and wherein the one or more second sensors further comprise at least one of: (i) a second flow sensor configured to detect a second flow velocity of cerebrospinal fluid within the spine; (ii) a second viscosity sensor configured to detect a second viscosity of cerebrospinal fluid within the spine; (iii) a second biochemical sensor configured to detect one or more biomarkers of chronic neurological diseases within the spine; (iv) a second polsoxymetry sensor configured to detect oxygen saturation within the spine; and (v) a second Raman spectroscopy sensor configured to detect a second molecular composition of cerebrospinal fluid within the spine. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first monitoring device further comprises a positional sensor fixed relative to the first housing and in operable communication with the first processor, the method further comprising:
 detecting, by the positional sensor, a positional orientation of the patient; and   storing, at the first data storage, positional data in association with the first cerebrospinal fluid data.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 transmitting, by a first transceiver of the first monitoring device, the first cerebrospinal fluid data to an external device positioned outside of the patient; and   transmitting, by a second transceiver of the second monitoring device, the second cerebrospinal fluid data to the external device.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 comparing, by the external device, respective values of the first cerebrospinal fluid data and respective values of the second cerebrospinal fluid data; and   identifying, by the external device, one or more differences between the respective values of the first cerebrospinal fluid data and respective values of the second cerebrospinal fluid data.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 diagnosing the patient with one or more neurological pathologies based at least in part on at least one of: (i) the first cerebrospinal fluid data; (ii) the second cerebrospinal fluid data;   and (iii) the one or more differences between the respective values of the first cerebrospinal fluid data and respective values of the second cerebrospinal fluid data.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising treating the one or more pathologies by administering to the patient an effective amount of a therapeutic agent from a reservoir disposed within the housing in operable communication with a pump controlled by the processor to selectively dispense the therapeutic agent therefrom into a catheter extending outside of the housing into the cerebrospinal fluid.