VALVE SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH MULTI-DIRECTIONAL PUMPING

• US 20140094735A1
• Filed: 09/28/2012
• Published: 04/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Integra LifeSciences Switzerland Sàrl
• Original Assignee: Codman & Shurtleff Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: WILSON, STEPHEN, SOARES, BRIAN
• Granted Patent: US 9,114,230 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: A61M 5/1428 with manual pumping action

Abstract

An implantable valve system and method of using same, including a housing with a resilient membrane defining a reservoir in fluid communication with at least two ports, and at least a first set of opposing sealing features disposed on upper and lower surfaces within the housing. The membrane is capable of being depressed by a human finger to bring the sealing features together to substantially restrict fluid from passing through at least one of one of the ports, and is capable of being depressed additionally by a rolling motion of the finger to drive fluid through the other of the ports.

Claims

1. An implantable valve system comprising:

a housing with a resilient membrane defining a reservoir in fluid communication with at least two ports and having a longitudinal axis;

at least a first set of opposing sealing features disposed on upper and lower surfaces within the housing;

the membrane capable of being depressed by a human finger to bring the sealing features together to substantially restrict fluid from passing through at least one of one of the ports; and

the membrane further capable of being depressed additionally by a rolling motion of the finger to drive fluid through the other of the ports.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first set of opposing sealing features is disposed transverse to the longitudinal axis of the housing.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the first set of opposing sealing features extends substantially perpendicularly across the reservoir to establish first and second pumping chambers when the sealing features are brought together.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein one of the sealing features includes a detent and the other of the sealing features includes a recess to matingly receive the detent.

5. The system of claim 1 in which the housing further includes a floor portion which defines one of the sealing features.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the valve system includes at least a second set of sealing features capable of substantially restricting fluid from passing through the other of the ports when the membrane is depressed in the vicinity of the second set.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the first set and the second set are longitudinally spaced from each other.

8. A method for clearing an obstruction in a catheter implanted in a patient, comprising:

locating a valve system implanted sub-dermally in the patient, the valve system having a housing with a resilient membrane defining a reservoir in fluid communication with at least two ports and having at least a first set of opposing sealing features disposed on upper and lower surfaces within the housing;

depressing the membrane with one finger to bring the sealing features together to substantially restrict fluid from passing through at least one of one of the ports; and

moving the finger in a rolling motion to additionally depress the membrane to drive fluid through the other of the ports to clear the obstruction.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the valve system includes at least a second set of sealing features.

10. The method of claim 9 further including lifting the finger after the first rolling motion and depressing the membrane with the finger to bring the second set of sealing features together.

11. A method for clearing obstructions in at least two implanted catheters, comprising:

locating a valve system implanted sub-dermally in the patient, the valve system having a housing with a resilient membrane defining a reservoir in fluid communication with at least two ports and having at least a first set of opposing sealing features disposed on upper and lower surfaces within the housing;

depressing the membrane with one finger to bring the first set of sealing features together to substantially restrict fluid from passing through at least one of one of the ports;

moving the finger in a first rolling motion in a first direction to additionally depress the membrane to drive fluid in the first direction through the other of the ports to clear a first obstruction; and

moving the finger in a second rolling motion in a second direction to additionally depress the membrane to drive fluid in the second direction through the one of the ports to clear a second obstruction.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the valve system includes at least a second set of sealing features and further including, prior to moving the finger in the second rolling motion, lifting the finger after the first rolling motion and depressing the membrane with the finger to bring the second set of sealing features together.