Systems and methods for draining cerebrospinal fluid

An implant method for accessing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the subarachnoid space surrounding the spinal cord, comprising:

• creating an opening in a bone of a vertebral lamina using a drill bit, the drill bit being configured to create the opening without advancing into the spinal cord;
• driving a first body of an implant into the opening in a bone to place the implant into the bone, thereby securing the implant to the bone, the opening in the bone including a shelf at a distal end thereof including a hole therein, the implant configured for insertion into the vertebral lamina and anchoring therein, the implant comprising the first body defining a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first body including an exterior surface including threads, the implant further comprising an extension that extends past the second end of the first body, the extension having a narrower diameter than the second end of the first body, a needle removably coupled to the first body and extending past the second end of the first body, the first body being configured to be driven into the opening in the bone adjacent to the shelf such that the extension protrudes through the hole in the shelf of the bone, and the extension having a length configured to protrude through the hole in the shelf of the bone without piercing a central nervous system tissue adjacent to the bone;
• and piercing, with the needle by driving the first body into the opening in the bone, the central nervous system tissue adjacent to the bone thereby placing an end of the needle into an anatomical cavity to drain fluid from the anatomical cavity through the needle;
• and inserting a plug into an opening in a blood vessel, the plug including:
• a second body, a mechanical stop coupled to the second body, a bore directed entirely through the second body, and a retainer having an opening, the second body configured to be received through the opening to secure the retainer to the second body, and wherein upon inserting the plug into the opening in the blood vessel, a wall of the blood vessel is positioned between the mechanical stop and the retainer, and wherein the fluid from the anatomical cavity drains through the bore of the second body into the blood vessel.