Shunt valve locking mechanism

• US 20040010219A1
• Filed: 07/10/2002
• Published: 01/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Integra LifeSciences Switzerland Sàrl
• Original Assignee: Codman & Shurtleff Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Dextradeur, Alan, McCusker, Daniel, Gupta, Rainuka
• Granted Patent: US 7,390,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/006 Cerebrospinal drainage; Accessories therefor, e.g. valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 35/025 said actuating element being operated manually (e.g. a push-button located in the valve actuator)
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 35/04 yieldingly resisting the actuation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7069 With lock or seal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7225 Mechanical movement between lock and valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7256 Locks against rotary motion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5615 Valve

Abstract

A locking assembly is provided to simply and effectively prevent any unintentional adjustment of the adjustable valve mechanism in a fluid flow control device, without compromising the function of the device. The locking assembly generally includes at least one gripping arm for frictionally engaging at least a portion of the adjustable valve mechanism, and an actuating mechanism for controlling the deployment and release of the gripping arm. The locking assembly prevents unintentional adjustments that can adversely affect the pressure settings of the fluid flow control device. In particular, the locking assembly prevents unintentional adjustment, such as may be caused by the presence of a strong external magnetic field. The locking assembly can be easily disengaged, such as through the application or removal of an external mechanical force, to allow a clinician to adjust the pressure settings of the fluid flow control device as necessary.

Claims

1. A shunt valve system, comprising:

a housing having therein a chamber including an inlet port for receiving fluid, an outlet port for fluid release, and a valve mechanism including a rotor assembly for regulating fluid flow therethrough, when a fluid pressure differential between the inlet port and the outlet port exceeds a selected valve opening pressure; and

a selectively engageable locking assembly for preventing rotation of the rotor assembly, the locking assembly having at least one gripping arm having at least one contacting surface that is adapted to frictionally engage the rotor assembly to selectively maintain the rotor assembly in a desired position.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the rotor assembly further includes an outer wall, the at least one contacting surface of the at least one gripping arm being adapted to frictionally engage the outer wall of the rotor assembly.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the rotor assembly further includes an inner wall, the at least one contacting surface of the at least one gripping arm being adapted to frictionally engage the inner wall of the rotor assembly.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the locking assembly further includes an actuating mechanism for releasing and deploying the at least one gripping arm.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the actuating mechanism comprises a deformable membrane disposed on the housing that is configured to transfer a force applied to the deformable membrane through the housing and to the at least one gripping arm sufficient to move the at least one gripping arm between a first state in which the at least one gripping arm frictionally engages the rotor assembly and a second state in which the at least one gripping arm is disengaged from the rotor assembly.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the deformable membrane is formed from an elastomeric material selected from the group consisting of a silicone elastomer, polyurethane, nylon, and combinations thereof.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the deformable membrane of the actuating mechanism includes a shape memory material.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the shape memory material included in the actuating mechanism is a spring wire embedded within the deformable membrane.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism contains opposed, bilateral gripping arms.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism contains at least one gripping arm formed as an inflatable bladder.

11. The system of claim 2, wherein the outer wall of the rotor assembly contains friction-increasing surface features selected from the group consisting of grooves, detents, ridges, corrugations, roughened surfaces and combinations thereof.

12. The system of claim 3, wherein the inner wall of the rotor assembly contains friction-increasing surface features selected from the group consisting of grooves, detents, ridges, corrugations, roughened surfaces and combinations thereof.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one gripping arm has an outer surface containing friction-increasing surface features selected from the group consisting of grooves, detents, ridges, corrugations, roughened surfaces and combinations thereof.

14. A locking assembly for preventing rotation of a rotor assembly of a shunt valve system, the locking assembly comprising:

at least one gripping arm for frictionally engaging the rotor assembly, the at least one gripping arm having at least one rotor-contacting surface; and

an actuating mechanism mechanically linked to the gripping arm wherein the actuating mechanism is effective to move the at least one gripping arm between a locked position in which the at least one gripping arm frictionally engages the rotor assembly and an unlocked position in which the at least one gripping arm is disengaged from the rotor assembly.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the rotor assembly further includes an outer wall, the at least one rotor-contacting surface of the at least one gripping arm being adapted to frictionally engage the outer wall of the rotor assembly.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the rotor assembly further includes an inner wall, the at least one rotor-contacting surface of the at least one gripping arm being adapted to frictionally engage the inner wall of the rotor assembly.

17. The locking assembly of claim 14, wherein the actuating mechanism comprises a deformable membrane configured to transfer a force applied to the deformable membrane to the at least one gripping arm sufficient to move the at least one gripping arm between the locked position and the unlocked position.

18. The locking assembly of claim 17, wherein the deformable membrane of the actuating mechanism includes a shape memory material.

19. The locking assembly of claim 18, wherein the shape memory material included in the actuating mechanism is a spring wire embedded within the deformable membrane.

20. The locking assembly of claim 14, further containing opposed, bilateral gripping arms.

21. The locking assembly of claim 14, further containing at least one gripping arm formed as an inflatable bladder.

22. A locking assembly for selectively engaging a medical device having a fluid channel and a fluid regulator for preventing fluid flow therethrough, the locking assembly comprising:

an actuating mechanism having a deformable membrane connected to a gripping arm, the gripping arm being selectively moveable between a first position in which the arm frictionally engages the fluid regulator and a second position in which the arm does not engage the fluid regulator,

wherein the deformable membrane is configured to transfer a force applied thereto to the gripping arm sufficient to cause the arm to move from one of the first or second positions to the other of the first or second positions.