Treatment For Hydrocephalus

Abstract

A shunt system used to treat excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) accumulation is described. In some embodiments, the system utilizes various mechanical, electrical, or electromechanical concepts designed to either clean a portion of the shunt system, or customize CSF drainage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cerebrospinal fluid shunt comprising:
 a ventricular catheter;   a plurality of slits along a portion of the ventricular catheter facilitating entry of cerebrospinal fluid into the ventricular catheter;   a coating over or along one or more of the plurality of slits.   
     
     
         2 . The cerebrospinal fluid shunt of  claim 1 , wherein the coating is bioresorbable or biodegradable. 
     
     
         3 . The cerebrospinal fluid shunt of  claim 2 , wherein the coating comprises polyalpha-hydroxy-acid or polyesteramide. 
     
     
         4 . The cerebrospinal fluid shunt of  claim 2 , wherein some slits include different amounts of coating, so as to vary the cerebrospinal fluid entry capacity through different slits of the ventricular catheter. 
     
     
         5 . The cerebrospinal fluid shunt of  claim 2 , wherein some slits include coatings with different resorption rates, so as to vary the cerebrospinal fluid entry capacity through different slits of the ventricular catheter. 
     
     
         6 . The cerebrospinal fluid shunt of  claim 2 , wherein the coating is plasma protein adsorption suppressant. 
     
     
         7 . The cerebrospinal fluid shunt of  claim 2 , wherein the coating is Poly 2-methoxyethylacrylate. 
     
     
         8 . The cerebrospinal fluid shunt of  claim 2 , wherein the slits are sized differently so as to vary the cerebrospinal fluid entry capacity through different slits of the ventricular catheter. 
     
     
         9 . The cerebrospinal fluid shunt of  claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises an antibacterial coating. 
     
     
         10 . The cerebrospinal fluid shunt of  claim 1 , wherein the coating is further applied to an inner wall of the ventricular catheter. 
     
     
         11 . The cerebrospinal fluid shunt of  claim 1 , wherein the coating is not applied to the plurality of slits near a distal end of the ventricular catheter. 
     
     
         12 . The cerebrospinal fluid shunt of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of slits is comprised of a first plurality of slits positioned near a distal end of the ventricular catheter and a second plurality of slits positioned proximally to the first plurality of slits. 
     
     
         13 . The cerebrospinal fluid shunt of  claim 12 , wherein the coating is only applied to the second plurality of slits. 
     
     
         14 . The cerebrospinal fluid shunt of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of slits is further comprised of a third plurality of slits positioned proximally to the second plurality of slits. 
     
     
         15 . The cerebrospinal fluid shunt of  claim 14 , wherein the coating is only applied to the second plurality of slits and the third plurality of slits. 
     
     
         16 . The cerebrospinal fluid shunt of  claim 1 , wherein the coating projects outwardly from some of the plurality of slits. 
     
     
         17 . The cerebrospinal fluid shunt of  claim 1 , wherein the coating projects inwardly from some of the plurality of slits. 
     
     
         18 . The cerebrospinal fluid shunt of  claim 1 , wherein the coating is flush within and with a plane of some of the plurality of slits. 
     
     
         19 . A cerebrospinal fluid shunt comprising:
 a ventricular catheter;   a plurality of slits along a portion of the ventricular catheter facilitating entry of cerebrospinal fluid into the ventricular catheter;   a coating over or along some of the plurality of slits, such that the coating projects outwardly from some of the plurality of slits, projects radially inwardly from some of the plurality of slits, or is flush within and with a plane of some of the plurality of slits; and   wherein the coating is bioresorbable or biodegradable.   
     
     
         20 . A cerebrospinal fluid shunt comprising:
 a ventricular catheter;   a plurality of slits along a portion of the ventricular catheter facilitating entry of cerebrospinal fluid into the ventricular catheter;   a coating means for preventing cerebrospinal fluid accumulation on the ventricular catheter, the coating means being over or along some of the plurality of slits, such that the coating means projects outwardly from some of the plurality of slits, projects radially inwardly from some of the plurality of slits, or is flush within and with a plane of some of the plurality of slits; and   wherein the coating means is bioresorbable or biodegradable.