Draining Brain Fluid into Neck Veins to Treat Hydrocephalus
This patent describes a medical device, a shunt, designed to drain excess fluid from the brain into a specific neck vein to treat a condition called hydrocephalus, using a controlled flow rate.
Original patent title: “Methods and systems for draining cerebrospinal fluid into the venous system”
This patent describes a medical device, a shunt, designed to drain excess fluid from the brain into a specific neck vein to treat a condition called hydrocephalus, using a controlled flow rate. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a method for treating hydrocephalus by implanting a shunt in a patient's body. The shunt has openings at its far end to collect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a specific area in the brain called the CP angle cistern. A tube, or lumen, carries this fluid to a valve located in the shunt's near end. The shunt is positioned so that its main body runs through the patient's Inferior Petrosal Sinus (IPS), and its near end is placed near the Jugular Vein (JV). After placement, the shunt allows CSF to flow from the brain's cistern into the Jugular Vein at a controlled rate, specifically between 5 ml and 15 ml per hour.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover shunts that drain cerebrospinal fluid into body cavities other than the venous system, such as the peritoneal cavity.
- Does not cover shunts where the distal portion is placed outside the CP angle cistern or the proximal portion is not near the Jugular Vein.
- Does not cover shunts that operate at a cerebrospinal fluid flow rate outside the specified range of 5 ml to 15 ml per hour.
- Does not cover methods for treating conditions other than hydrocephalus using this specific shunt configuration.
- Does not cover shunts that do not include a valve in their proximal portion for flow regulation.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in the precise anatomical routing of the shunt, specifically from the CP angle cistern, through the Inferior Petrosal Sinus, and into or near the Jugular Vein. This specific pathway, combined with the controlled CSF flow rate of 5-15 ml per hour, aims to provide a targeted and regulated drainage solution for hydrocephalus.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Ventriculoperitoneal shunts (VPS)
Ventriculoatrial shunts (VAS)
Lumbar-peritoneal shunts (LPS)
Modern neurosurgical shunt systems
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Hydrocephalus, a condition where too much fluid builds up in the brain, can cause serious damage if untreated. Shunts are a primary treatment, but their placement and flow control are critical for patient safety and effectiveness. This patent focuses on a specific anatomical route and flow rate, which could offer a more precise or safer way to manage CSF drainage for certain patients, potentially reducing complications associated with other shunt types.
Filed
May 17, 2024
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies like Medtronic, DePuy Synthes (a Johnson & Johnson company), and Integra LifeSciences are major players in neurosurgical devices, including shunts for hydrocephalus. These companies continuously research and develop new shunt designs and implantation techniques to improve patient outcomes and reduce complications.
Market impact
Improved shunt designs and placement methods can significantly impact the market by offering better treatment options for hydrocephalus patients. This specific approach could lead to new product lines or refinements in existing shunt systems, potentially reducing surgical risks or improving long-term efficacy, thereby influencing surgical standards and patient care in neurosurgery.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a method for treating hydrocephalus by implanting a shunt in a patient's body. The shunt has openings at its far end to collect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a specific area in the brain called the CP angle cistern. A tube, or lumen, carries this fluid to a valve located in the shunt's near end. The shunt is positioned so that its main body runs through the patient's Inferior Petrosal Sinus (IPS), and its near end is placed near the Jugular Vein (JV). After placement, the shunt allows CSF to flow from the brain's cistern into the Jugular Vein at a controlled rate, specifically between 5 ml and 15 ml per hour.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in the precise anatomical routing of the shunt, specifically from the CP angle cistern, through the Inferior Petrosal Sinus, and into or near the Jugular Vein. This specific pathway, combined with the controlled CSF flow rate of 5-15 ml per hour, aims to provide a targeted and regulated drainage solution for hydrocephalus.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover shunts that drain cerebrospinal fluid into body cavities other than the venous system, such as the peritoneal cavity.
- Does not cover shunts where the distal portion is placed outside the CP angle cistern or the proximal portion is not near the Jugular Vein.
- Does not cover shunts that operate at a cerebrospinal fluid flow rate outside the specified range of 5 ml to 15 ml per hour.
- Does not cover methods for treating conditions other than hydrocephalus using this specific shunt configuration.
- Does not cover shunts that do not include a valve in their proximal portion for flow regulation.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$26K – $84K
Midpoint $53K · 17.6 yr remaining · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). Draining Brain Fluid into Neck Veins to Treat Hydrocephalus (U.S. Patent No. 12,734,344). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734344/methods-and-systems-for-draining-cerebrospinal-fluid-into-the-venous-system
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US12734344"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4965188 · 1990
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes.
Cetus Corp
US 4235871 · 1980
How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently
This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured.
Individual
Semantically similar
You might also find these interesting
US 12734333 · 2026
Removing Blood Clots from Brain Vessels with a Special Catheter
US 12733848 · 2026
Device for Collecting and Separating Bodily Fluids Using Pressure
US 12734351 · 2026
How a Catheter Blood Pump Extends Its Tip for Guidance
US 12734030 · 2026
A New Heart Valve That Replaces Old Ones Without Open Surgery
More to explore
More in Biotech & Medicine
US 4683195 · 1987 · Cetus Corp
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
US 8697359 · 2014 · Massachusetts Institute of Technology
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
US 4733665 · 1988 · Expandable Grafts Partnership
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
US 4965188 · 1990 · Cetus Corp
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Draining Brain Fluid into Neck Veins to Treat Hydrocephalus cover?
This patent describes a medical device, a shunt, designed to drain excess fluid from the brain into a specific neck vein to treat a condition called hydrocephalus, using a controlled flow rate.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Hydrocephalus, a condition where too much fluid builds up in the brain, can cause serious damage if untreated. Shunts are a primary treatment, but their placement and flow control are critical for patient safety and effectiveness. This patent focuses on a specific anatomical route and flow rate, which could offer a more precise or safer way to manage CSF drainage for certain patients, potentially reducing complications associated with other shunt types.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover shunts that drain cerebrospinal fluid into body cavities other than the venous system, such as the peritoneal cavity.
Patent monitoring