System and method for intracranial access and monitoring
View Patent ↗A system and method for intracranial access is disclosed. In particular, a drill stop is shown providing a way to control the penetration of a drill bit as an access hole into the brain is being formed. Access to a desired location is achieved using a catheter guide device. Also disclosed is a mechanism by which multiple diagnostic and treatment devices can be placed at a desired location in brain tissue without the need for more than one access hole. A drainage catheter is disclosed with a mechanism to allow both drainage and to allow intracranial pressure measurement.
1. A method of placing a probe at a target location of a patient's cranial space comprising:
creating an access hole in a cranial bone of said patient;
placing a probe platform into said access hole;
introducing a catheter through a longitudinal first passage of said probe platform and into said cranial space;
introducing a probe through a second passage of said probe platform and along an axis substantially parallel to said longitudinal first passage;
advancing said probe past said probe platform and through a straight region of said second passage, continuing along said axis substantially parallel to said longitudinal first passage and towards said patient's cranial space; and,
upon reaching a curved elbow at a distal end of said second passage, urging said probe away from said axis and said catheter via a distal curved portion of said second passage.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the introducing of said probe into said cranial space includes introducing said probe into a guide tube of said probe platform.
3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein the introducing of said probe into said cranial space includes introducing said probe into a guide tube wherein a distal end of said guide tube is curved away from said axis.
4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the urging of said distal end of said probe away from said axis includes urging said distal end at an angle of about sixty degrees from said axis.
5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the introducing of said probe through said probe platform includes placing said probe on an introducer and inserting said introducer into said probe platform.
6. A method according to claim 5 , wherein the inserting of said introducer includes inserting said introducer having a curved shape at its distal end when in a normal state.
7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said catheter is a drainage catheter.
8. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising, introducing a second probe into said cranial space through said probe platform.
9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the introducing of a probe includes introducing an oxygen probe.
10. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the target location is undisturbed tissue located in said cranial space.
11. A method of placing a probe at a target location of a patient's cranial space comprising:
placing a probe platform into an access hole in a cranial bone and into a cranial space of said patient;
introducing a catheter through a longitudinal first passage of said probe platform and into said cranial space; said longitudinal first passage extending along an axis of said probe platform;
introducing a probe through a second passage of said probe platform and along said axis; said second passage including a guide tube extending distally from said probe platform and linearly along said axis into said cranial space; and,
bending said probe away from said axis upon reaching a curved elbow at the distal end of said guide tube and advancing said probe away from said catheter.