Cerebrospinal fluid purification system
Inventors
Lad, Shivanand • Mobley, William C. • Nikolich, Karoly • Saul, Thomas
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10398884-B2
Publication Date
2019-09-03
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention provides methods and systems for conditioning cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by removing target compounds from CSF. The systems provide for a catheter flow path and exchange of a majority volume portion of CSF in the CSF space. The removal and/or delivery of specific compounds can be tailored to the pathology of the specific disease. The removal is targeted and specific, for example, through the use of specific size-exclusion thresholds, antibodies against specific toxins, and other chromatographic techniques, as well as delivery and/or removal of targeted therapeutic agents.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a method for ameliorating a symptom of meningitis in a patient by selecting a patient having a symptom of meningitis. Cerebrospinal fluid is removed from a first location in a lumbar cerebrospinal fluid space and conditioned by removing a causative agent from the removed cerebrospinal fluid.
Conditioned cerebrospinal fluid is returned to the patient at a second location in a cervical cerebrospinal fluid space, a thoracic cerebrospinal fluid space, or a ventricle of the patient. The cerebrospinal fluid is returned at substantially the same flow rate at which it is removed, and the removing and returning steps are performed concurrently using one or more catheters, each catheter comprising one or more lumens.
The conditioning can be performed using one or more separation processes, including biospecific affinity, immunoaffinity, cationic exchange, anionic exchange, hydrophobicity, or size exclusion. Conditioning is described as being performed outside the patient’s body, and flow reversal may be implemented as a pulse to dislodge debris from removal or return ports.
Claims Coverage
The document includes one independent claim directed to concurrent lumbar CSF removal, conditioning by removal of a causative agent, and return of conditioned CSF to a cervical, thoracic, or ventricular location using one or more multi-lumen catheters. The claim family further specifies matched flow rate, selected separation processes, external conditioning, and flow-reversal pulsing.
Concurrent lumbar removal and non-lumbar return of conditioned CSF at substantially the same flow rate
Selecting a patient having a symptom of meningitis; removing cerebrospinal fluid from a first location in a lumbar cerebrospinal fluid space; removing a causative agent from the removed cerebrospinal fluid; and returning the conditioned cerebrospinal fluid to a second location in a cervical cerebrospinal fluid space, a thoracic cerebrospinal fluid space, or a ventricle, wherein the cerebrospinal fluid is returned at substantially the same flow rate at which it is removed.
Use of one or more multi-lumen catheters for concurrent removal and return
Performing the removing and returning steps concurrently using one or more catheters, each catheter comprising one or more lumens.
Conditioning using one or more selected separation processes
Conditioning the cerebrospinal fluid using one or more separation processes selected from biospecific affinity, immunoaffinity, cationic exchange, anionic exchange, hydrophobicity, or size exclusion.
External conditioning outside the patient’s body
Performing the conditioning step outside the patient’s body.
Flow reversal pulse to dislodge debris from ports
Implementing flow reversal as a pulse to dislodge debris from removal or return ports.
Overall, the claim coverage centers on concurrent lumbar CSF removal and matched-flow return to a different CSF location using multi-lumen catheters, with CSF conditioning achieved by removal of a causative agent and further constrained by specified separation modalities, external conditioning, and flow-reversal pulsing.
Stated Advantages
Ameliorating a symptom of meningitis in a patient by conditioning cerebrospinal fluid through removal of a causative agent.
Documented Applications
Ameliorating a symptom of meningitis in a patient.
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