Hydrocephalus valve

• US 20040024346A1
• Filed: 06/09/2003
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christoph Miethke
• Original Assignee: Christoph Miethke
• Inventors: Miethke, Christoph
• Granted Patent: US 6,926,691 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3337 Controlling, regulating pressure or flow by means of a valve by-passing a pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/006 Cerebrospinal drainage; Accessories therefor, e.g. valves

Abstract

In order to allow improved adaptation to the situation existing in a patient in the case of a hydrocephalus valve with an electric actuating system comprising a control system opening and closing the hydrocephalus valve, it is proposed that the control system is a time control system.

Claims

1. A hydrocephalus valve comprising an electrically actuable switching valve which can be adjusted by the electrical actuating system between an open position and a closed position, wherein the switching valve is stable in the open position and in the closed position when the electrical actuating system is not activated.

2. A valve according to claim 1, wherein the switching valve comprises a spherical valve body which in the closed position rests in a sealing manner on a valve aperture and in the open position rests in a recess laterally adjacent to the valve aperture.

3. A valve according to claim 2, wherein the actuating system comprises a slide which displaces the valve body, on the one hand, and the valve aperture and the recess on the other hand, relative to one another.

4. A valve according to claim 1, wherein the actuating system comprises an electromagnetic drive.

5. A valve according to claim 1, wherein the actuating system comprises a piezoelectric drive.

6. A valve according to claim 1, wherein the actuating system comprises a current-carrying bimetal.

7. A valve according to claim 1, wherein a control system actuating the switching valve is provided, the control system being formed as a time control system.

8. A valve according to claim 2, wherein a control system actuating the switching valve is provided, the control system being formed as a time control system.

9. A valve according to claim 3, wherein a control system actuating the switching valve is provided, the control system being formed as a time control system.

10. A valve according to claim 7, wherein the time control system is programmable.

11. A valve according to claim 8, wherein the time control system is programmable.

12. A valve according to claim 9, wherein the time control system is programmable.

13. A valve according to claim 7, wherein the time control system can be influenced by signals from at least one measuring instrument.

14. A valve according to claim 13, wherein the measuring instrument is a pressure measuring apparatus.

15. A valve according to claim 13, wherein the measuring instrument is a position sensor.

16. A valve according to claim 13, wherein the measuring instrument determines muscle potentials.

17. A valve according to claim 13, wherein the measuring instrument determines brain current potentials.

18. A valve according to claim 7, wherein a data memory is associated with the time control system.

19. A valve according to claim 7, wherein the time control system changes the opening behaviour of a closure valve.