초록 ▼

Drainage systems for excess body fluids and associated methods are disclosed herein. A body fluid drainage system in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology, for example, can include a catheter that has an exterior surface, a proximal portion, and a distal portion opposite the proxim

Drainage systems for excess body fluids and associated methods are disclosed herein. A body fluid drainage system in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology, for example, can include a catheter that has an exterior surface, a proximal portion, and a distal portion opposite the proximal portion. The body fluid drainage system can further include a valve device, a pressure sensor, and a controller operatively coupled to the valve device and the pressure sensor. The valve device can include an actuator positioned over the exterior surface of the catheter. The actuator is movable between an open position that allows body fluid flow through the catheter, a closed position that at least substantially obstructs the body fluid flow through the catheter, and intermediate positions that partially obstruct the body fluid flow through the catheter. The controller can change the position of the actuator in response to a predetermined condition of the pressure sensor.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A body fluid drainage system, comprising: a catheter having a proximal portion and a distal portion opposite the proximal portion, wherein the proximal portion includes an inlet configured to be implanted into a patient and in fluid communication with a site of excess body fluid within the patien

1. A body fluid drainage system, comprising: a catheter having a proximal portion and a distal portion opposite the proximal portion, wherein the proximal portion includes an inlet configured to be implanted into a patient and in fluid communication with a site of excess body fluid within the patient;a pressure sensor spaced apart from the site of excess body fluid, wherein the pressure sensor is configured to measure pressure within the catheter;a reference line comprising a tube having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion;an end cap at the first end portion, wherein the end cap is configured to be positioned at least proximate to the site of excess body fluid and external to the site of excess body fluid; anda reference fluid in the tube, the reference fluid having a predetermined density, wherein the reference line is configured to provide a pressure head between the site of excess body fluid and the pressure sensor; anda controller operatively coupled to the pressure sensor and the reference line, wherein the controller is configured to derive pressure in the site of excess body fluid via the pressure sensor and the reference line. 2. The body fluid drainage system of claim 1 wherein the pressure sensor is operably coupled to the catheter and the second end portion of the tube, and wherein the pressure sensor is configured to measure differential pressure between the tube and the catheter. 3. The body fluid drainage system of claim 1 wherein the pressure sensor is a first pressure sensor operably coupled to the catheter, and wherein the body fluid drainage system further comprises: a second pressure sensor operably coupled to the second end portion of the tube, wherein the second pressure sensor is configured to measure pressure in the tube, andwherein the controller is configured to use the measured pressures of the first and second sensors to derive the pressure in the site of excess body fluid. 4. The body fluid drainage system of claim 1, further comprising a valve device configured to change resistance to flow through the catheter, wherein the controller is configured to change the resistance to flow in response to the derived pressure in the site of excess body fluid. 5. The body fluid drainage system of claim 1, further comprising: a reservoir between the proximal and distal portions of the catheter, the reservoir having a cross-sectional dimension greater than a cross-sectional dimension of the proximal and distal portions of the catheter, wherein the reservoir is configured to be compressed to flush fluid at least one of proximally or distally through the catheter. 6. The body fluid drainage system of claim 5, further comprising: an actuator at an exterior surface of the reservoir, wherein the actuator is configured to be movable between at least an open position and a closed position. 7. The body fluid drainage system of claim 6 wherein the actuator is a first actuator, and wherein the body fluid drainage system further comprises: a second actuator acting on an external surface of the catheter, wherein the controller is configured to change the position of the first and second actuators independently of one another. 8. The body fluid drainage system of claim 1, further comprising a valve device configured to change resistance to flow through the catheter, wherein the valve device comprises at least one pinch valve. 9. The body fluid drainage system of claim 1, further comprising: a magnetic shield over the controller, the magnetic shield obstructing magnetic interference with the controller. 10. The body fluid drainage system of claim 1, further comprising a valve device having an actuator acting on the catheter, and wherein the catheter comprises peristaltic pump tubing proximate to the actuator. 11. The body fluid drainage system of claim 1, further comprising: a reservoir between the proximal and distal portions of the catheter, the reservoir having a cross-sectional dimension greater than a cross-sectional dimension of the catheter, wherein the reservoir has a first length; andan actuator over an exterior surface of the reservoir, the actuator having a second length at least equal to the first length such that the actuator compresses the reservoir along the first length. 12. The body fluid drainage system of claim 1, further comprising at least one of an accelerometer or an inclinometer. 13. A body fluid drainage system, comprising: a catheter having a proximal portion and a distal portion opposite the proximal portion, wherein the proximal portion includes an inlet configured to be implanted into a patient and in fluid communication with a site of excess body fluid within the patient;a pressure sensor spaced apart from the site of excess body fluid, wherein the pressure sensor is configured to measure pressure within the catheter;a reference line comprising a tube having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion, wherein the tube is configured to be at least partially filled with a liquid; andan end cap at the first end portion, wherein the end cap is configured to be positioned proximate to the site of excess body fluid,wherein the reference line is configured to provide a pressure head between the site of excess body fluid and the pressure sensor; anda controller operatively coupled to the pressure sensor and the reference line, wherein the controller is configured to derive pressure in the site of excess body fluid via the pressure sensor and the reference line. 14. The body fluid drainage system of claim 13 wherein the pressure sensor is operably coupled to the catheter and the second end portion of the tube, and wherein the pressure sensor is configured to measure differential pressure between the tube and the catheter. 15. The body fluid drainage system of claim 13 wherein the pressure sensor is a first pressure sensor operably coupled to the catheter, and wherein the body fluid drainage system further comprises: a second pressure sensor operably coupled to the second end portion of the tube, wherein the second pressure sensor is configured to measure pressure in the tube, andwherein the controller is configured to use the measured pressures of the first and second sensors to derive the pressure in the site of excess body fluid. 16. The body fluid drainage system of claim 13, further comprising a valve device configured to change resistance to flow through the catheter, wherein the controller is configured to change the resistance to flow in response to the derived pressure in the site of excess body fluid. 17. The body fluid drainage system of claim 13, further comprising: a reservoir between the proximal and distal portions of the catheter, the reservoir having a cross-sectional dimension greater than a cross-sectional dimension of the proximal and distal portions of the catheter, wherein the reservoir is configured to be compressed to flush fluid at least one of proximally or distally through the catheter. 18. The body fluid drainage system of claim 17, further comprising: an actuator at an exterior surface of the reservoir, wherein the actuator is configured to be movable between at least an open position and a closed position. 19. The body fluid drainage system of claim 18 wherein the actuator is a first actuator, and wherein the body fluid drainage system further comprises: a second actuator acting on an external surface of the catheter, wherein the controller is configured to change the position of the first and second actuators independently of one another. 20. The body fluid drainage system of claim 13, further comprising a valve device configured to change resistance to flow through the catheter, wherein the valve device comprises at least one pinch valve. 21. The body fluid drainage system of claim 13, further comprising: a magnetic shield over the controller, the magnetic shield obstructing magnetic interference with the controller. 22. The body fluid drainage system of claim 13, further comprising a valve device having an actuator acting on the catheter, and wherein the catheter comprises peristaltic pump tubing proximate to the actuator. 23. The body fluid drainage system of claim 13, further comprising: a reservoir between the proximal and distal portions of the catheter, the reservoir having a cross-sectional dimension greater than a cross-sectional dimension of the catheter, wherein the reservoir has a first length; andan actuator over an exterior surface of the reservoir, the actuator having a second length at least equal to the first length such that the actuator compresses the reservoir along the first length. 24. The body fluid drainage system of claim 13, further comprising at least one of an accelerometer or an inclinometer. 25. The body fluid drainage system of claim 1 wherein the inlet is configured to be implanted into a ventricle of a patient's brain. 26. The body fluid drainage system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to derive intracranial pressure. 27. The body fluid drainage system of claim 1 wherein the inlet is configured to be inserted into a patient's lumbar region. 28. The body fluid drainage system of claim 1 wherein the reference line is configured to be mounted over an external location of a patient's foramen of Monro. 29. The body fluid drainage system of claim 1 wherein the reference line is configured to be implanted in the patient. 30. The body fluid drainage system of claim 1 wherein the end cap is configured to fit over a patient's ear. 31. The body fluid drainage system of claim 1, further comprising a flow rate sensor configured to measure flow rate within the catheter. 32. The body fluid drainage system of claim 1, further comprising a cartridge housing having portions that contact the excess body fluid. 33. The body fluid drainage system of claim 1, further comprising a controller interface operatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller interface includes one or more user controls and displays configured to allow a user to select and adjust one or more desired conditions. 34. The body fluid drainage system of claim 13 wherein the inlet is configured to be implanted into a ventricle of a patient's brain. 35. The body fluid drainage system of claim 13 wherein the controller is configured to derive intracranial pressure. 36. The body fluid drainage system of claim 13 wherein the inlet is configured to be inserted into a patient's lumbar region. 37. The body fluid drainage system of claim 13 wherein the reference line is configured to be mounted over an external location of a patient's foramen of Monro. 38. The body fluid drainage system of claim 13 wherein the reference line is configured to be implanted in the patient. 39. The body fluid drainage system of claim 13 wherein the liquid at least partially filling the tube has a density equal to a density of the excess body fluid. 40. The body fluid drainage system of claim 13 wherein the liquid at least partially filling the tube has a density different from a density of the excess body fluid. 41. The body fluid drainage system of claim 13 wherein the end cap includes a flexible structure and a protective barrier configured to inhibit compression of the flexible structure. 42. The body fluid drainage system of claim 13 wherein the end cap is configured to fit over a patient's ear. 43. The body fluid drainage system of claim 13, further comprising a flow rate sensor configured to measure flow rate within the catheter. 44. The body fluid drainage system of claim 13, further comprising a cartridge housing having portions configured to contact the excess body fluid. 45. The body fluid drainage system of claim 13, further comprising a controller interface operatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller interface includes one or more user controls and displays configured to allow a user to select and adjust one or more desired conditions.