Port

A device for providing fluid access to the central nervous system of a mammal, said device comprising:

• a fluid port allowing the delivery or removal of fluid from the central nervous system;
• a housing comprising an extracorporeal portion allowing access to said fluid port, and a lowermost surface configured to engage with an outermost surface of the skull;
• and
• a fluid tube connected to the fluid port and extending from the housing, wherein:
• the lowermost surface of the housing comprises a plurality of teeth for engagement with the outermost surface of the skull.

A device for providing fluid access to the central nervous system of a mammal, said device comprising:

• a fluid port allowing the delivery or removal of fluid from the central nervous system;
• a housing comprising an extracorporeal portion allowing access to said fluid port;
• a fluid tube connected to the fluid port and extending from the housing;
• a septum sealing the fluid port;
• and
• a cap configured to engage with the extracorporeal portion of the housing and compress the septum when the cap is attached.

A device for providing fluid access to the central nervous system of a mammal, said device comprising:

• a fluid port allowing the delivery or removal of fluid from the central nervous system;
• a housing comprising an extracorporeal portion allowing access to said fluid port;
• a guide member;
• one or more fluid tubes connected to the fluid port and extending from the housing;
• and
• a connector configured to engage with the guide member, the connector comprising one or more needles configured to make fluid connection with respective ones of the fluid tubes via the fluid port,
• wherein the connector and the guide member are configured such that, upon engagement of the connector with the guide member, each of the needles adopts a predetermined position relative to the respective one of the fluid tubes.

A method of implanting a device for providing fluid access to the central nervous system of a mammal, the method comprising:

• forming a trench in the outermost surface of the mammal's skull, said trench extending from an implantation site towards a cannula providing fluid connection to the central nervous system of the mammal, wherein the trench does not penetrate the inner surface of the skull;
• connecting a fluid tube of the device to the cannula;
• filling the trench with an acrylic cement;
• inserting the fluid tube into the trench;
• and
• engaging the lowermost surface of the device with the outermost surface of the skull at the implantation site.