Implantable cranial medical device

Abstract

An implantable cranial medical device includes a first fluid flow path, a second fluid flow path, and upper flange portion, and a lower portion. The upper flange portion is configured to rest on a skull of a subject about a burr hole. The lower portion is configured to be placed within the burr hole. The first fluid flow path may extend from a first opening in the upper flange portion to a first opening in the lower portion. The second fluid flow path may extend from a second opening in the upper flange portion to a second opening in the lower portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 delivering a therapeutic fluid to a brain of a patient via a catheter,   wherein the therapeutic fluid comprises valproic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and   wherein the catheter comprises one or more therapeutic fluid contact regions, the one or more fluid contact regions comprising a polyurethane polymer, polyolefin, polyethylene, fluorinated polymer, or combinations thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter comprises a polyurethane polymer. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the polyurethane polymer comprises a hard segment and a soft segment, wherein the hard segment comprises a polymeric isocyanate and the soft segment comprises a polymeric polyol. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the polymeric isocyanate comprises an aromatic isocyanate, an aliphatic isocyanate, or both. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the polymeric polyol comprises a polyether, polyester, or both. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the polymeric polyol comprises a polyether, polyester, or both. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the polyurethane polymer comprises an aromatic isocyanate, an aliphatic isocyanate, or both. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the polyurethane polymer comprises polyether, polycarbonate, or both. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the polyurethane polymer comprises polycarbonate. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the polyurethane polymer has a Shore A hardness in a range from 70A to 110A. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the polyurethane polymer has a Shore D hardness in a range from 30D to 70D. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter comprises a polyurethane hard segment and a polycarbonate soft segment. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter comprises a fluorinated polymer. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the fluorinated polymer is a homopolymer of polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF), a copolymer of PVDF, a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene, or polychlorotrifluoroethylene. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of the valproic acid or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in the therapeutic fluid is 10 mg/ml to 500 mg/ml or 50 mg/ml to 450 mg/ml. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the patient has epilepsy.