System and method for controlling CSF flow and managing intracranial pressure

A CSF management system for use with a patient having a body with CSF and a port to the patient's CSF, the patient also having a craniospinal compartment, the system comprising:

• a CSF circuit having a catheter, a valve, and configured to coordinate with at least one pump, the CSF circuit configured to control flow of the patient's CSF and being removably couplable with the patient's port;
• a pressure sensor operably couplable with the catheter, the pressure sensor configured to monitor the intracranial pressure in the craniospinal compartment of the patient when flowing CSF through the CSF circuit;
• and
• a controller configured to control the pump to flow the CSF at a given flow rate through the CSF circuit, the controller configured to control the pump to control the given flow rate of the CSF in the CSF circuit in real time as a function of the monitored intracranial pressure in the craniospinal compartment, wherein the controller is configured to:
• maintain the given flow rate at a substantially constant rate while the intracranial pressure is within a pressure threshold range defined by a high threshold pressure value and a low threshold pressure value;
• automatically modify the given flow rate when the intracranial pressure is detected to be outside of the pressure threshold range to:
• control the pump to reduce the given flow rate of the CSF when the intracranial pressure is detected to be equal to or greater than a high threshold pressure value;
• and
• control the pump to increase the given flow rate of the CSF when the intracranial pressure is detected to be equal to or less than the low threshold pressure value,
• wherein modification of the given flow rate of the CSF occurs when the intracranial pressure remains outside the pressure threshold range for a predetermined time period.