Project Description:
Ventricular catheters are currently a key piece of medical equipment being used to treat both chronic and acute cases of hydrocephalus and hemorrhages. However, the standard ventricular catheters that are available in hospitals rely entirely on drainage holes along the side portions of the catheter. This current model functions effectively for chronic forms of hydrocephalus, where the primary goal is to drain cerebrospinal fluid, however, issues often present themselves when this catheter is used in acute cases where blood clots frequently occlude the peripheral holes. Thus, the development of a novel ventricular catheter with a removable distal tip via a metallic stylet would allow for an additional fluid drainage site and a reduction in the need for such catheters to be replaced due to occlusion. The additional drainage route at the distal end of the catheter will be placed in the ventricle of the brain, minimizing the risk of damage to brain tissue in situations where the catheter needs to undergo a flushing procedure to dislodge blockages. The development and implementation of this device would be beneficial to physicians by reducing the number of emergency drain replacements that need to be performed, as well as improving overall patient outcomes by minimizing any tissue damage or infection that ultimately could result during a catheter replacement. However, in the testing and implementation of this device, it is vital that diverse patient populations are used in clinical trials to ensure it provides universal favorable outcomes. Ultimately, it would also be important to consider the ethical implications of producing this product using materials and manufacturing methods that are minimally expensive to ensure that this product is available to patients and clinical settings regardless of financial factors.
