Innovative Catheter Drains Ventricular Cerebrospinal Fluid

A new external ventricular drainage (EVD) catheter reduces cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obstructions and overall treatment costs.

The Arkis BioSciences (Knoxville, TN, USA) CerebroFlo EVD Catheter with Endexo Technology is intended for insertion into a ventricular cavity of the brain for external drainage of CSF in patients with elevated intracranial pressure, intraventricular hemorrhage, or hydrocephalic shunt infections. Endexo, a product of Interface Biologics (Toronto, Canada), is a permanent coating based on a fluoro-oligomeric polymer that results in a passivated surface, reducing platelet adhesion and activation and coagulation activity in its vicinity, and helping to prevent infections, occlusions, and other potential problems.

“Arkis' CerebroFlo catheter is the first neuro catheter to incorporate Endexo, a permanent polymer additive whose properties have been shown to reduce protein adhesion and activation in laboratory in vitro studies,” said Chad Seaver, CEO of Arkis BioSciences. “The catheter's Endexo formulation has properties that may lead to reduced complications such as catheter occlusion and infection.”

An EVD catheter is most frequently placed by way of a twist-drill craniostomy placed at Kocher's point, a location in the frontal bone of the skull, with the goal of placing the catheter tip in the frontal horn of the lateral ventricle or in the third ventricle. The catheter is typically inserted on the right side of the brain, but in some cases a left-sided approach is used, and in other situations catheters are needed on both sides.

Related Links:
Arkis BioSciences
Interface Biologics