The Caroline Guide: A Non-invasive Medical Device for the Placement of
Shunts to Treat Hydrocephalus
Tech ID: 04-92-43
The Caroline Guide is a simple non-invasive medical device that assists a surgeon in the placement of posterior shunts for the treatment of hydrocephalus. The Guide is FDA-approved and has been used to place shunts in more than 150 human patients.
Use of the Caroline Guide for posterior placement of shunts achieves results more predictable than free-hand methods and offers a safe alternative to frontal shunt placement. The Guide consists of a C-clamp with a tube in the back to hold and guide
the cannula.Having drilled an entrance hole in the back of the skull, the surgeon then places the Guide on the patient and inserts the catheter through the guide cannula holder into the ventricle.
Background:
Placement of a ventricular shunt in
patients with hydrocephalus is one of the most commonly performed operations in
neurosurgery.Hydrocephalus occurs in
about 0.5% of the U.S. population, including 80% of patients with spina
bifida.It arises when the flow of
cerebrospinal fluid is obstructed causing pressure to build up in the ventricles
of the brain.The surgical treatment is
to place a shunt in the enlarged ventricular space and drain the fluid. A catheter returns the cerebrospinal fluid
directly or indirectly to the bloodstream.
The shunt can be introduced into the ventricle using a
frontal or posterior approach.While the
frontal approach is shorter and commonly used, it is disfiguring and requires a
second incision to place the catheter. The posterior approach is preferable cosmetically to teen and adult
patients and reduces the number of
incisions required to place the catheter.
Advantages:
The Caroline Guide:
- facilitates the accurate
placement of a posterior shunt which:
- does not disfigure the
patient
- avoids injury to the
frontal lobes
- requires only a single
incision to place the catheter
- is
reusable
- is
easy to master
- is
FDA approved
Status:
U.S.
Patent No. 5,569,267, issued October 29, 1996, claims a device and method of
placing posterior ventricular shunts. Washington Research Foundation is managing the licensing of rights under
this patent.
For additional information, please contact:
Beth G. Etscheid
Director of Licensing
Washington Research
Foundation
2815 Eastlake Avenue E, Suite 300
Seattle, WA 98102
Tel:
206.336.5600
Fax: 206.336.5615
betschei@wrfseattle.org
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