IMPLANTABLE CRANIAL MEDICAL DEVICE

1 . An implantable cranial medical device comprising:

a first fluid path;

a second fluid path;

an upper flange portion; and

a lower portion,

wherein the upper flange portion is configured to rest on a skull of subject about a burr hole,

wherein the lower portion is configured to be placed within the burr hole,

wherein the first fluid flow path extends from a first opening in the upper flange portion to a first opening in the lower portion, and

wherein the second fluid flow path from a second opening in the upper flange portion to a second opening in the lower portion.

2 . The implantable cranial medical device of claim 1 ,

wherein the upper flange portion has a width in a range from 15 millimeters to 30 millimeters,

wherein the lower portion has a width in a range from 10 millimeters to 20 millimeters, and

wherein the upper flange portion has a greater width than the lower portion.

3 . The implantable cranial medical device of claim 2 , wherein the lower portion has a height in a range from 3 millimeters to 7 millimeters.

4 . The implantable cranial medical device of claim 3 , wherein the upper flange portion has a height in a range from 3 millimeters to 8 millimeters.

5 . The implantable cranial medical device of claim 1 , comprising a port defining an opening in communication with the first fluid path.

6 . The implantable cranial medical device of claim 1 , wherein the first opening of the upper flange portion defines the opening of the port.

7 . The implantable cranial medical device of claim 6 , wherein the upper flange portion comprises a top surface and wherein first opening of the upper flange portion is defined by the top surface.

8 . The implantable cranial medical device of claim 6 , comprising a septum, wherein the septum seals the opening of the port.

9 . The implantable cranial medical device of claim 1 , comprising an external catheter connector in communication with the second fluid path.

10 . The implantable cranial medical device of claim 9 , wherein the external catheter connector has a longitudinal axis that extends substantially parallel to a bottom of the upper flange portion.

11 . The implantable cranial medical device of claim 1 , wherein the upper flange portion of the housing comprises a generally flat annular bottom extending laterally relative to the lower portion.

12 . The implantable cranial medical device of claim 1 , comprising a brain catheter connector extending from the lower portion, the brain catheter connector comprising a first lumen in fluid communication with the first fluid path and a second lumen in fluid communication with the second fluid path.

13 . A system comprising:

the implantable cranial medical device of claim 12 ; and

a brain catheter operably couplable to the brain catheter connector,

wherein the brain catheter comprises first and second lumens,

wherein the first lumen of the brain catheter is placed in fluid communication with the first lumen of the brain catheter connector when the brain catheter is coupled to the brain catheter connector, and

wherein the second lumen of the brain catheter is placed in fluid communication with the second lumen of the brain catheter connector when the brain catheter is coupled to the brain catheter connector.

14 . A system comprising:

the implantable cranial medical device of claim 1 ; and

an implantable infusion device operably coupled to the second fluid path.

15 . A method comprising:

implanting a brain catheter having a distal end and a proximal end and having first and second lumens extending from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein the brain catheter is implanted such that the distal end is positioned in a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-containing space of a subject and the proximal end is in proximity to a burr hole in a skull of the subject,

implanting the implantable cranial medical device of claim 1 in the subject such that the lower portion of the housing is disposed in the burr hole and the upper flange portion is between a skull and a scalp of a subject; and

coupling the brain catheter to the implantable cranial medical device such that the first lumen of the brain catheter is in communication with the first fluid path and the second lumen of the brain catheter is in communication with the second fluid path.

16 . The method of claim 15 , comprising aspirating fluid from the CSF-containing space of the subject through the first lumen of the brain catheter and through the first fluid path of the implantable cranial medical device.

17 . The method of claim 16 , comprising placing a lumen of a needle in communication with the first fluid path of the implantable cranial medical device and aspirating the fluid from the CSF-containing space of the subject through the lumen of the needle.

18 . The method of claim 15 , comprising infusing a fluid to the CSF-containing space of the subject by infusing the fluid through the second flow path of the implantable cranial medical device and through the second lumen of the brain catheter.

19 . The method of claim 18 , comprising coupling an infusion device to the second fluid path of the implantable cranial medical device and infusing the fluid from the infusion device to the second fluid path.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the infusion device is an implanted infusion device.

21 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the CSF-containing space is a cerebral ventricle.