Wireless Shunts With Storage

• US 20090112308A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Integra LifeSciences Switzerland Sàrl
• Original Assignee: Codman & Shurtleff Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Kassem, Salim
• Granted Patent: US 8,480,612 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.240
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/031 Intracranial pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/04 implanted
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/32 with radio-opaque indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3344 Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/002 Implant devices for drainage of body fluids from one part of the body to another intraocular A61F9/00781; middle ear A61F11/202
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/006 Cerebrospinal drainage; Accessories therefor, e.g. valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/22 Valves or arrangement of valves A61M39/02, A61M39/0247, A61M39/16 take precedence; regulating valves in infusion systems A61M5/16881; in devices worn by the patient for the reception of urine, faeces, catamenial or other discharge, or in colostomy devices A61F5/4405

Abstract

Devices and methods useful for storing and retrieving information related to a medical device such as an implantable valve or an implantable sensor are disclosed. An implantable valve can include a valve housing adapted to receive fluid flow therethrough between a valve inlet and a valve outlet. A valve assembly can be disposed within the valve housing and adapted to control a rate of fluid flowing through the valve housing. The implantable valve can also include a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag associated with the valve housing, adapted to store data, and including an antenna for communicating stored data to an external reading device. The RFID tag can store data related to, for example, a patient, a pressure setting of the valve assembly, and/or pressure sensor disposed within the valve. The RFID tag can also store an identifier that identifies the implantable valve, a pressure sensor disposed in the valve housing, a patient associated with the implantable valve, and/or patient clinical history.

Claims

1. An implantable valve, comprising

a valve housing adapted to receive fluid flow therethrough between a valve inlet and a valve outlet;

a valve assembly disposed within the valve housing and adapted to control a rate of fluid flowing through the valve housing; and

a radio frequency identification tag disposed within the valve housing and adapted to store data, the RFID tag including an antenna for communicating stored data to an external reading device.

2. The implantable valve of claim 1, further comprising a sensor disposed within the valve housing and adapted to measure a pressure of fluid flowing through the valve housing.

3. The implantable valve of claim 2, wherein the radio frequency identification tag stores calibration data for calibrating pressure measured by the sensor.

4. The implantable valve of claim 2, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is disposed a distance apart from the sensor.

5. The implantable valve of claim 2, wherein the sensor includes an antenna for communicating with an external reading device.

6. The implantable valve of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is disposed proximate to any of the valve inlet of the valve housing and the valve outlet of the valve housing.

7. The implantable valve of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is disposed proximate to a reservoir formed in the valve housing.

8. The implantable valve of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identification tag stores data related to a patient.

9. The implantable valve of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identification tag stores a pressure setting of the valve assembly that controls the rate of fluid flowing through the valve housing.

10. The implantable valve of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identification tag stores an identifier that identifies any of the implantable valve, a pressure sensor disposed in the valve housing, and a patient associated with the implantable valve.

11. A implantable data storage system, comprising:

a pressure sensor adapted to measure a pressure of fluid flowing through an implantable sensor housing; and

an implantable radio frequency identification tag associated with the pressure sensor, adapted to store data related to the pressure sensor, and including an antenna for communicating stored data to an external reading device.

12. The data storage system of claim 11, wherein the pressure sensor is disposed in a valve that is adapted to receive fluid flow therethrough between a valve inlet and a valve outlet.

13. The data storage system of claim 11, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is adapted to store calibration data for calibrating pressure measured by the pressure sensor.

14. The data storage system of claim 11, wherein the pressure sensor and the radio frequency identification tag are coated with a fluid-impermeable coating.

15. The data storage system of claim 11, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is adapted to store data related to a patient medical history.

16. The data storage system of claim 11, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is disposed within a body at a location remote from the pressure sensor.

17. The data storage system of claim 11, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is disposed within a housing of the pressure sensor.

18. The data storage system of claim 11, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is also associated with a second sensor and adapted to store data related to the second sensor.

19. A method, comprising:

positioning a distal end of a ventricular catheter within a ventricle;

coupling a proximal end of the ventricular catheter to a valve inlet formed on an implantable valve, and coupling a valve outlet formed on the valve to a drainage catheter such that fluid flows from the ventricle through the valve to the drainage catheter, and;

using an external reading device to obtain data telemetrically from a radio frequency identification tag disposed in the valve, the radio frequency identification tag adapted to store data related to the valve.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising adjusting a rate of fluid flow from the inlet valve to the outlet valve.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the radio frequency identification tag stores a pressure measurement obtained by a pressure sensor disposed within the valve.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising communicating with the pressure sensor and the radio frequency identification tag at a same frequency using an external reading device.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising obtaining stored data telemetrically from the radio frequency identification tag by positioning the external reading device in proximity to the radio frequency identification tag.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising programming the radio frequency identification tag with an external reading device.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein obtaining data includes obtaining data related to any of calibration data for the pressure sensor, patient data, patient clinical history, identification data for the valve, and identification data for a pressure sensor disposed within the valve.