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Abstract

A catheter for controlling the drainage of fluid from a body cavity, particularly cerebrospinal fluid from the ventricle of human brain in the treatment of hydrocephalus. The catheter is in the form of an elongated, hollow conduit having a plurality of apertures formed at one end in communication with the hollow interior of the conduit. A barrier is mounted on the conduit adjacent the apertures and is located between the apertures and the outflow or opposite end of the conduit. Preferably, the barrier is in the form of a cuff which is inflatable after insertion into the ventricle of the brain to indicate to the surgeon that the inflow end of the catheter has been accurately positioned within the ventricle of the brain and to space the apertures in the inflow end of the catheter a sufficient distance from the surrounding brain tissue and choroid plexus to prevent the growth or adherence of surrounding tissue over the apertures in the conduit.

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First Claim