System and method for controlling fluid flow rate and monitoring and recording fluid pressure during a medical infusion

A system for controlling an infusion of fluid into brain tissue, the system comprising:

• a tubular fluid passageway including a neural catheter portion shaped to be introduced within brain tissue and operable to deliver a fluid to a location within the brain tissue, the tubular fluid passageway encapsulating a stylet operable translate within the tubular passageway to seal off a stepped tip to prevent an occlusion of tissue in the catheter during a catheter insertion;
• a fluid infusion pump mechanically and fluidically coupled to the fluid passageway and operable to pump fluid through the neural catheter portion into the location, the fluid infusion pump having at least two fluid pumping states and including:
• an electrical, automatic, pumping device;
• a fluid pressure sensor mechanically and fluidically coupled to the fluid passageway and operable to:
• measure a pressure of the fluid within the fluid passageway;
• and
• connect to the electrical, automatic pumping device;
• and
• a processor communicatively coupled to the fluid infusion pump and the fluid pressure sensor, the processor operable to select between the at least two fluid pumping states based upon the measured pressure of the fluid within the fluid passageway;
• and
• a display coupled to the processor and operable to indicate a numerical value of the measured pressure of the fluid and to display a graphical representation of the pressure of the fluid as measured over a period of time.