Catheter delivery systems for infusions into the cortex

Abstract

In the context of intraparenchymal delivery of therapeutic agents into brain parenchyma for the purpose of treating serious brain diseases, we present the scientific and medical need for infusion from a single source to cover a large area of the cerebral cortex, which we refer to as ‘surface-contoured distributions’ (SCD). The designs of two devices suitable for obtaining such SCD's are described, and the results of preliminary experimental studies with prototypes of them are reported. The studies were done in ex vivo samples of mammalian brain tissues, and histological sections of the brains confirmed that we had covered the large surface area desired. Work to test that the infusate penetrates the thickness of the cortex remains for the future.

Keywords:

• Neurocatheter
• Neurodegenerative disease
• Convection-enhanced delivery
• Brain phantom gels
• Pia mater

AMS Subject Classification:

• 76Z99
• 92C50

Declaration of interest:

The work was supported in part by SBIR Grant R44NS048695 awarded by the US National Institutes of Health. The work at the University of Virginia was also supported in part by the Kopf Family Foundation, Inc. and by Therataxis, LLC. Authors Poston and Raghavan receive income from Therataxis, LLC and author Raghavan has equity ownership in Therataxis, LLC.