Methods and systems for draining cerebrospinal fluid into the venous system

A method for positioning an elongate medical device within a subarachnoid space (SAS) beneath dura and arachnoid tissue layers in a patient's cranium, the method comprising:

• introducing a delivery catheter through a vascular access point of the patient, the delivery catheter having a sidewall opening in a distal portion of the delivery catheter;
• navigating the delivery catheter through the patient's vascular system until the distal portion of the delivery catheter is positioned within a venous sinus of the patient;
• expanding a stabilizing element coupled to, or incorporated within, the distal portion of the delivery catheter to position the side opening adjacent to a targeted location in a wall of the venous sinus;
• advancing a tissue penetrating member out the side opening of the delivery catheter and through the sinus wall to thereby create an anastomosis between the venous sinus and the SAS;
• and
• deploying the elongate medical device out the side opening of the delivery catheter and through the anastomosis so that a distal portion of the elongate medical device is positioned in the SAS.