Controllable Shunt
First Claim
1. An apparatus for draining cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a patient'"'"'s cerebral ventricle system and depositing the CSF into a body absorption site comprising:
- a passage capable of shunting CSF from the patient'"'"'s cerebral ventricle system to the body'"'"'s absorption site;
a control unit for managing CSF flow based on patient symptoms; and
a remote programmer adapted to communicate operating instructions to the control unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method for volumetric removal of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the brain of patients suffering from hydrocephalus. The apparatus comprises a drainage conduit, which interconnects the cerebral ventricle system to a body cavity and an open and close pinch flow restrictor external to the drainage conduit to control flow. The flow restrictor has a controller that is remotely programmable. Also, the method provides for drainage of the CSF through the conduit by opening and closing the pinch flow restrictor for programmed durations. The actual opening and closing of the flow restrictor to actuate the drainage is determined by patient response to excessive or inadequate CSF diversion.
23 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus for draining cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a patient'"'"'s cerebral ventricle system and depositing the CSF into a body absorption site comprising:
- a passage capable of shunting CSF from the patient'"'"'s cerebral ventricle system to the body'"'"'s absorption site;
a control unit for managing CSF flow based on patient symptoms; and
a remote programmer adapted to communicate operating instructions to the control unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- a passage capable of shunting CSF from the patient'"'"'s cerebral ventricle system to the body'"'"'s absorption site;
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11. A method of controlling flow of CSF fluid comprising:
- identifying a patient with hydrocephalus;
implanting in the patient a conduit for establishing drainage of CSF fluid from a patient'"'"'s cerebral ventricular system to a patient'"'"'s body cavity;
implanting in the patient a programmable flow restrictor; and
controlling a patient'"'"'s CSF flow by restricting flow through the conduit using the flow restrictor based on a patient'"'"'s symptoms of inadequate or excessive CSF drainage. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- identifying a patient with hydrocephalus;
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18. An apparatus for draining cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a patient'"'"'s cerebral ventricles and depositing the CSF into a body absorption site comprising:
- a conduit with a first end inserted into the patient'"'"'s cerebral ventricle and a second end inserted into a patient'"'"'s body absorption site;
a flow restrictor to control CSF flow based on a patient'"'"'s symptoms;
a control unit for operating flow restrictor; and
a remote programmer adapted to communicate operating instructions to the control unit. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
- a conduit with a first end inserted into the patient'"'"'s cerebral ventricle and a second end inserted into a patient'"'"'s body absorption site;
Specification