Optoelectronic sensing of a subcutaneous implant setting

• US 10,143,827 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2015
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Integra LifeSciences Switzerland Sàrl
• Original Assignee: Integra LifeSciences Switzerland Sàrl
• Inventors: Bittenson, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US14/871,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20160089519A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/229 Stopcocks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/04 implanted
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/587 Lighting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/006 Cerebrospinal drainage; Accessories therefor, e.g. valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/223 Multiway valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/06 using a magnet , e.g. diaphragm valves, cutting off by means of a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/088 the movement of the first magnet being a rotating or pivoting movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0058 Optical means, e.g. light transmission, observation ports F16K37/0075 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for optically reading a setting of an implantable valve. The valve includes optical emitters that are wirelessly powered by a valve reading tool that images the emitted light to determine the valve setting.

Claims

1. A valve for implantation beneath the skin of a patient, the valve comprising:

a fluid inlet port;

a fluid outlet port;

a restriction element therebetween for restricting fluid transport between the inlet port and the outlet port;

a control member operatively coupled to the restriction element for setting at least one of a rate of fluid flow through the restriction element and a pressure drop across the restriction element, a physical orientation of the control member being indicative of the setting; and

at least two light-emitting elements coupled to the control member and physically spaced apart from one another along a length of the control member;

wherein light emitted by the at least one light-emitting element is externally detectable through the skin of the patient for reading the setting.

2. The valve according to claim 1 wherein the two light-emitting members differ from one another by at least one of a difference in wavelengths of the respective light emission and a difference in a time dependence of the intensity of the respective light emission.

3. The valve according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the light-emitting elements is a light-emitting diode.

4. The valve according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the light-emitting element comprises emission wavelengths in one or more of the visible and near infrared spectral regions.

5. The valve according to claim 1 wherein the light emitted by at least one of the light-emitting elements is pulsed.

6. The valve according to claim 1, further comprising a housing that is transmissive of light emitted by at least one of the light-emitting elements, the control member being disposed in the housing.

7. A valve for implantation beneath the skin of a patient, the valve comprising:

a fluid inlet port;

a fluid outlet port;

a restriction element therebetween for restricting fluid transport between the inlet port and the outlet port;

a control member operatively coupled to the restriction element for setting at least one of a rate of fluid flow through the restriction element and a pressure drop across the restriction element, a physical orientation of the control member being indicative of the setting; and

a first light-emitting element coupled to the control member; and

a second light-emitting element coupled to the control member;

wherein light emitted by at least the first light-emitting element is externally detectable through the skin of the patient for reading the setting, and

wherein light emitted by the second light-emitting element is externally detectable through the skin of the patient and indicative of at least one of a location and a physical orientation of the valve under the skin of the patient.

8. The valve according to claim 7, wherein the second light-emitting element comprises emission wavelengths in one or more of the visible and near infrared spectral regions.

9. The valve according to claim 7, wherein light emitted by the second light-emitting element and light emitted by the first light-emitting element are distinguishable from one another by at least one of a difference in wavelengths of the respective light emission and a difference in a time dependence of the intensity of the respective light emission.

10. The valve according to claim 7, further comprising an antenna electrically connected to the first light-emitting element receiving an externally generated electromagnetic signal and for providing electrical power to the second light-emitting element.

11. The valve according to claim 7 further comprising at least a third additional light-emitting element coupled to the housing but spaced from the control member, wherein light emitted by the at least a third additional light-emitting element is externally detectable through the skin of the patient and indicative of at least one of a location and a physical orientation of the valve under the skin of the patient.

12. A valve for implantation beneath the skin of a patient, the valve comprising:

a fluid inlet port;

a fluid outlet port;

a restriction element therebetween for restricting fluid transport between the inlet port and the outlet port;

a control member operatively coupled to the restriction element for setting at least one of a rate of fluid flow through the restriction element and a pressure drop across the restriction element, a physical orientation of the control member being indicative of the setting;

at least one light-emitting element coupled to the control member; and

an antenna electrically connected to the at least one light-emitting element receiving an externally generated electromagnetic signal and for providing electrical power to the at least one light-emitting element,

wherein light emitted by the at least one light-emitting element is externally detectable through the skin of the patient for reading the setting.

13. A method for non-invasively reading a setting of an adjustable valve implanted beneath the skin of a patient, the method comprising:

detecting through the skin, light emitted by at least three physically distributed light sources within the valve;

mapping the relative locations of the at least three light sources, and

calculating a current setting of the valve from the mapped locations.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein at least two of the light sources differ from one another with respect to at least one of an emitted wavelength of light and a time dependence of the light emission.

15. The method according to claim 13 further comprising the step of:

adjusting the valve with a magnet while simultaneously reading the setting of the valve.

16. A system for reading a setting of an adjustable fluid flow valve implanted beneath the skin of a patient, the valve comprising at least three light emitters, the relative locations of the light emitters being indicative of the setting, the system comprising:

an electronic imaging array for imaging light emitted by the at least three light emitters and transmitted through the skin; and

an electronic processor for determining the setting of the valve from the image; and

a display for indicating the setting of the valve.

17. The system according to claim 16 wherein the imaging array is positionable one of on and closely above the surface of the skin under which the valve is implanted.

18. The system according to claim 16 wherein the display further indicates at least one of a location and a spatial orientation of the implanted valve.

19. The system according to claim 16 further comprising an energy transmitting antenna for transmitting electrical power to the light emitters.

20. The system according to claim 16 wherein the valve is a magnetically adjustable valve;

and further comprising a magnetic adjustment component for adjusting a setting of the valve.

21. The system according to claim 17 wherein the electronic imaging array comprises a planar array of imaging pixels;

and the magnetic adjustment component is operable with the imaging array positioned between the magnetic adjustment component and the skin above the valve location.

22. A system comprising a valve for implantation beneath the skin of a patient and an external control unit for reading a setting of the valve implanted beneath the skin of a patient, the system comprising a valve comprising:

a fluid inlet port;

a fluid outlet port;

a restriction element therebetween for restricting fluid transport between the inlet port and the outlet port;

a control member operatively coupled to the restriction element for setting at least one of a rate of fluid flow through the restriction element and a pressure drop across the restriction element, a physical orientation of the control member being indicative of the setting; and

at least three light emitters, the relative locations of the light emitters being indicative of the setting of the valve;

the external control unit comprising;

an electronic imaging array for imaging light emitted by the at least three light emitters and transmitted through the skin; and

an electronic processor for determining the setting of the valve from the image; and

a display for indicating the setting of the valve.