Systems and methods for shunting fluid
First Claim
1. A flusher comprising:
- an upstream port;
a downstream port;
a shunt valve disposed between the upstream and downstream ports and configured to regulate pressure in an anatomical chamber in fluid communication with the upstream port;
a ventricle channel that extends from the upstream port to a first side of a flush valve;
a flush channel that extends from a second side of the flush valve to a flush dome; and
a bypass channel that extends from the downstream port to the ventricle channel;
wherein the flush valve is configured to allow fluid communication between the first and second sides of the flush valve when a pressure differential across the flush valve exceeds a predetermined threshold; and
wherein the flush dome is collapsible to (i) force fluid through the flush valve, the ventricle channel, and the upstream port, and (ii) prevent fluid flow through the bypass channel, thereby preventing fluid from being forced through the downstream port.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided herein that generally involve shunting fluid, e.g., shunting cerebrospinal fluid in the treatment of hydrocephalus. Self-cleaning catheters are provided which include split tips configured such that pulsatile flow of fluid in a cavity in which the catheter is inserted can cause the tips to strike one another and thereby clear obstructions. Catheters with built-in flow indicators are also provided. Exemplary flow indicators include projections that extend radially inward from the interior surface of the catheter and which include imageable portions (e.g., portions which are visible under magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)). Movement of the flow indicators caused by fluid flowing through the catheter can be detected using MRI, thereby providing a reliable indication as to whether the catheter is partially or completely blocked. Systems and methods for flushing a shunt system are also disclosed herein, as are various systems and methods for opening auxiliary fluid pathways through a shunt system.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A flusher comprising:
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an upstream port; a downstream port; a shunt valve disposed between the upstream and downstream ports and configured to regulate pressure in an anatomical chamber in fluid communication with the upstream port; a ventricle channel that extends from the upstream port to a first side of a flush valve; a flush channel that extends from a second side of the flush valve to a flush dome; and a bypass channel that extends from the downstream port to the ventricle channel; wherein the flush valve is configured to allow fluid communication between the first and second sides of the flush valve when a pressure differential across the flush valve exceeds a predetermined threshold; and wherein the flush dome is collapsible to (i) force fluid through the flush valve, the ventricle channel, and the upstream port, and (ii) prevent fluid flow through the bypass channel, thereby preventing fluid from being forced through the downstream port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A flusher, comprising:
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a body with an upstream port and a downstream port; a shunt valve that allows fluid to flow from the upstream port to the downstream port when a pressure at the upstream port exceeds an opening pressure of the shunt valve; a flush dome; and a flush valve disposed between the upstream port and the flush dome; wherein an actuation force applied to the flusher is effective to;
(i) collapse the flush dome, (ii) open the flush valve to emit a pulse of fluid from the flush dome and through the upstream port, and (iii) block fluid flow between the upstream and downstream ports to prevent the pulse of fluid from flowing through the downstream port;wherein the actuation force blocks the fluid flow between the upstream and downstream ports by occluding a bypass channel that extends along an exterior of the flush dome. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification