Access port assembly, flow control system and trajectory determination assembly, and methods for using the aforementioned

An access port assembly configured to assist in creating access for and accommodating a medical device extending from outside a patient body and terminating in a cavity internal to the patient body, the access port assembly comprising:

• a fixation base comprising at least one fastener for securely coupling the access port assembly in a selected position to a site of interest external to the patient body;
• a guide element comprising a guide channel having a longitudinal guide axis extending from an inlet to an outlet of the guide element for guiding the medical device through the guide channel,
• wherein the guide element is movably coupled with the fixation base by an articulating linkage to allow selecting an orientation of the guide channel relative to the site of interest of the patient body;
• an orientation locking mechanism configured to secure the guide channel in a selected orientation and to unsecure the guide channel to allow manipulation of the guide channel into a selected orientation relative to the fixation base;
• a guide locking mechanism for axially securing the medical device in a desired position within the guide channel of the guide element,
• wherein the articulating linkage is implemented as a ball-and-socket linkage;
• wherein the guide element is movably coupled with the fixation base by an articulating linkage to allow selecting an orientation of the guide channel relative to the site of interest of the patient body;
• and
• wherein the guide element and the articulating linkage are configured so that they are form-fittingly coupleable with each other.

A system for monitoring and controlling flow of intracranial fluid, the system comprising:

• at least one first cranial inlet access port assembly,
• at least one second cranial outlet access port assembly;
• at least one pump device configured to impart energy onto fluid, and having a pump inlet and a pump outlet;
• wherein the first inlet access port assembly and the pump outlet can be brought in fluid communication with each other by a cranial inlet catheter tubing;
• and
• wherein the first outlet access port assembly and the pump inlet can be brought in fluid communication with each other by a cranial outlet catheter tubing;
• at least one sensor configured to provide at least one sensor output relating to at least one sensed characteristic of cerebrospinal fluid pressure;
• at least one processor;
• at least one memory storing software code portions executable by the at least one processor to cause the system to perform the following steps:
• receiving the at least one sensor output;
• and
• controlling, based on the at least one sensor output, the operation of the at least one pump device.

A trajectory determination assembly configured for assisting in determining a desired trajectory of a ventricular drainage catheter through a cranial target site, the trajectory determination assembly comprising:

• a first arm and a second arm that are articulated with each other to enable rotation relative to each other around a rotation axis;
• wherein the first arm comprises a first light source configured to emit in a first projection orientation, which is selectable with respect to at least one first facial feature, a first projection plane to project a first line marking on the patient's head;
• wherein the second arm comprises a second light source configured to emit in a second projection orientation, which is selectable with respect to at least one second facial feature, a second projection plane to project a second line marking on the patient's head;
• and
• wherein the trajectory guide is configured such that when the first arm and the second arm are concurrently set, respectively, in the selected first and second projection orientations, the rotation axis of the first arm and the second arm coincides with the desired catheter trajectory.