| abstract |
An intrathecal delivery system for a pharmaceutical includes a reservoir containing a volume of the pharmaceutical agent, and a pump configured to deliver a portion of the pharmaceutical agent contained in the reservoir. A controller is configured to receive biological cycle information pertaining to a biological cycle (e.g., cardiac cycle), and configured, based on the received biological cycle information, to control the pump to deliver the pharmaceutical agent into a patient's intrathecal space as a high-speed bolus at a time corresponding to a time determined based on the biological cycle information. The high-speed bolus may be delivered at a rate of 10-100 µL per second. The timing of such delivery corresponds to a time within the biological cycle when cerebrospinal fluid flow is optimal for intrathecal delivery of the pharmaceutical agent. Conditions for which treatment is enhanced by the intrathecal delivery system include refractory hypertension, spasticity and chronic pain management. |