READING AND ADJUSTING TOOL FOR HYDROCEPHALUS SHUNT VALVE

• US 20120197178A1
• Filed: 01/27/2011
• Published: 08/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Xomed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Xomed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Prisco, John R., Murphy, John Murdock, Hei, Jamie, Mayor, Laetitia, Jaquier, Pierre
• Granted Patent: US 8,813,757 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 37/0041 for measuring valve parameters F16K37/0033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8242 Electrical

Abstract

A reading and adjustment tool for use with a valve having a pressure or flow setting adjustable to a plurality of pressure or flow settings is disclosed. The tool includes a signal generator and an excitation coil coupled to the signal generator. The signal generator includes an adjustment interface configured to generate an adjustment signal to adjust the pressure or flow setting and a reading interface to generate a reading signal to read the pressure or flow setting of the valve. At least one excitation coil is connected to the signal generator and configured to generate an oscillating electromagnetic field based on one of the adjustment signal and reading signal. A sense coil can include two portions positioned on either side of the at least one excitation coil to determine the pressure or flow setting of the valve.

Claims

1. A valve reading and adjustment tool for use with a valve having a pressure or flow setting adjustable to a plurality of pressure or flow settings, comprising:

a signal generator, comprising;

an adjustment interface configured to generate an adjustment signal to adjust the pressure or flow setting of the valve;

a reading interface configured to generate a reading signal to read the pressure or flow setting of the valve;

and

at least one excitation coil connected to the signal generator and configured to generate an oscillating electromagnetic field based on at least one of the adjustment signal and the reading signal.

2. The valve reading and adjustment tool of claim 1, wherein the adjustment interface and the reading interface are coupled to the at least one excitation coil through a relay configured to select one of the adjustment signal and the reading signal as an output signal generated by the at least one excitation coil.

3. The valve reading and adjustment tool of claim 1, wherein the at least one excitation coil includes a first excitation coil coupled to the adjustment interface and a second excitation coil coupled to the reading interface.

4. The valve reading and adjustment tool of claim 1, further comprising:

a sense coil, comprising;

a first sense coil portion positioned on a first side of the excitation coil; and

a second sense coil portion positioned on an opposite side of the excitation coil than the first portion.

5. The valve reading and adjustment tool of claim 4, wherein the first and second sense coils are positioned and connected in such a way as to cancel a signal from the at least one excitation coil so that a response from the valve can be detected in the sense coil independent of the signal in the excitation coil.

6. The valve reading and adjustment tool of claim 1 wherein the first and second sense coil portions are equally spaced with respect to the excitation coil.

7. The valve reading and adjustment tool of claim 1 wherein the signal generator includes a reading interface configured to generate reading signals of different frequencies to determine the pressure or flow setting of the valve.

8. The valve reading and adjustment tool of claim 1, further comprising a user interface.

9. The valve reading and adjustment tool of claim 8, wherein the user interface includes a display.

10. The valve reading and adjustment tool of claim 8, wherein the user interface includes a plurality of buttons.

11. The valve reading and adjustment tool of claim 8, wherein the user interface includes at least one indicator to provide an assessment of proximity between the tool and the valve.

12. The valve reading and adjustment tool of claim 1, further comprising a body portion and a coil assembly housing movable with respect to the body portion.

13. A handheld valve reading and adjustment tool for use with a valve having a pressure or flow setting adjustable to a plurality of pressure or flow settings, comprising:

a signal generator;

an excitation coil coupled to the signal generator;

a sense coil, comprising;

a first coil portion positioned on a first side of the excitation coil; and

a second coil portion positioned on an opposite side of the excitation coil than the first portion;

a signal detector coupled to the excitation coil; and

wherein the signal generator is configured to send a reading signal to the valve and the sense coil is configured to receive an indication of the pressure or flow setting based on the reading signal.

14. The valve reading and adjustment tool of claim 13 wherein the signal generator further includes an adjustment interface configured to generate an adjustment signal to adjust the pressure or flow setting of the valve.

15. The valve reading and adjustment tool of claim 13 wherein the first and second coil portions are equally spaced with respect to the excitation coil.

16. The valve reading and adjustment tool of claim 13 wherein the signal generator includes a reading interface configured to generate reading signals of different frequencies to determine the pressure or flow setting of the valve.

17. The valve reading and adjustment tool of claim 13, further comprising a user interface.

18. The valve reading and adjustment tool of claim 17, wherein the user interface includes a display.

19. The valve reading and adjustment tool of claim 17, wherein the user interface includes a plurality of buttons.

20. The valve reading and adjustment tool of claim 17, wherein the user interface includes at least one indicator to provide an assessment of proximity between the tool and the valve.

21. The valve reading and adjustment tool of claim 13, further comprising a body portion and a coil assembly housing movable with respect to the body portion.

22. The valve reading and adjustment tool of claim 13 wherein the signal generator includes an adjustment interface and a reading interface and wherein a relay selects one of the adjustment interface and the reading interface to deliver signals to the excitation coil and sense coil.

23. The valve reading and adjustment tool of claim 13, wherein the first coil portion and the second coil portion are positioned and connected in such a way as to cancel a signal from the excitation coil so that a response from the valve can be detected independent of the signal from the excitation coil.