System for controlling fluid in a body
First Claim
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1. A device implantable in a body for controlling a flow of fluid in a duct, said duct comprising a wall having an interior surface defining an aperture and an exterior, said implantable device comprising an electroactive polymer transducer operable to selectively occlude said aperture by displacement of said exterior of said wall of said duct.
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Abstract
A system for controlling the flow of fluid in a body includes an implantable device for controlling the flow of fluid in a duct, a controller, and, if appropriate, a pressure assist device for a reservoir that is a source of fluid flowing in the duct.
87 Citations
44 Claims
- 1. A device implantable in a body for controlling a flow of fluid in a duct, said duct comprising a wall having an interior surface defining an aperture and an exterior, said implantable device comprising an electroactive polymer transducer operable to selectively occlude said aperture by displacement of said exterior of said wall of said duct.
- 8. A device implantable in a body for controlling a flow of fluid in a duct, said duct comprising a wall having an interior surface defining an aperture and an exterior, said implantable device comprising a piezoelectric transducer operable to selectively occlude said aperture by displacement of said exterior of said wall of said duct.
- 15. A device implantable in a duct in a body for controlling a flow of fluid in said duct, said duct comprising a wall having an interior surface defining an aperture, said device comprising a transducer implantable in said aperture and operable to selectively occlude said aperture.
- 29. A device implantable in a body for increasing a fluid pressure in a reservoir, said reservoir comprising a flexible wall having an exterior surface and an interior surface defining a volume, said device comprising an electroactive contractile transducer arranged to compress said exterior surface of said reservoir.
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31. A device implantable in a body for increasing a fluid pressure in a reservoir, said reservoir comprising a flexible wall having an exterior surface and an interior surface defining a volume, said device comprising an electroactive contractile transducer having a first and a second end, said first and said second ends being attached to said inner surface of said wall and defining a length of said transducer, said length being alterable by application of electrical energy to said contractile transducer.
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32. A system for controlling a flow of fluid in a body duct including a wall having an interior surface defining an aperture for fluid flow and an exterior, said system comprising
(a) an electroactive polymer duct occluding transducer operable to selectively occlude said duct in response to a first signal; -
(b) a program executable by a data processing device including a program instruction directing an output of said first signal; and
(c) a data processing device outputting said first signal to said electroactive polymer duct occluding transducer in response to said program instruction. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A system for controlling a flow of fluid in a body duct including a wall having an interior surface defining an aperture for fluid flow and an exterior, said system comprising
(a) a piezoelectric duct occluding transducer operable to selectively occlude said duct in response to a first signal; -
(b) a program executable by a data processing device including a program instruction directing an output of said first signal; and
(c) a data processing device outputting said first signal to said piezoelectric duct occluding transducer in response to said program instruction. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A device implantable in a body for controlling a flow of fluid in a duct, said duct comprising a wall having an interior surface defining an aperture and an exterior, said implantable device comprising a polymer-metal composite transducer operable to selectively occlude said aperture by displacement of said exterior of said wall of said duct.
Specification