HYDROCEPHALUS SHUNT WITH TWO-WAY FLUSHING MEANS

• US 3,595,240 A
• Filed: 08/07/1968
• Issued: 07/27/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alan J. Mishler
• Original Assignee: Alan J. Mishler
• Inventors: Mishler, Alan J.
• Application Number:
  US04/756,713
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• US Class Current: 604/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/006 Cerebrospinal drainage; Accessories therefor, e.g. valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0208 Subcutaneous access sites for injecting or removing fluids transcutaneous access sites A61M39/0247; implantable infusion devices A61M5/14276

Abstract

Drainage devices for use such as ventriculo-atrial shunts are provided which are particularly useful in neurosurgery to divert fluid from the cerebral ventricular system when abnormal collections of cerebrospinal fluid occur secondary to obstruction or failure of reabsorption. The surgical appliances of this invention have a first chamber and an at least partially surrounding second chamber with inlet means to the first and second chamber and outlet means from the second chamber. A valve means allows entrance of fluid to the first chamber from the inlet means but prevents backflow of fluid to the inlet means from the first chamber while allowing backflow of fluid from the second chamber to the inlet means.

Claims

1. A drainage device for use as a ventriculo-atrial shunt comprising, means defining a first chamber having an outlet passageway and an inlet passageway, means defining a second chamber surrounding said first chamber, an inlet means defining a first opening for passing fluids to said first chamber, said inlet means defining a second opening to said second chamber, and valve means for permitting passage of fluids to said first chamber from said inlet means and preventing backflow of fluids to said inlet means without closing said second opening.

2. A drainage device for use as a ventriculo-atrial shunt in accoRdance with claim 1 wherein said inlet means comprises a tube interconnected with said first chamber at one end and with said second chamber at a point axially spaced from said one end and defining orifices for passage of fluids to said second chamber and first chamber.

3. A drainage device for use as a ventriculo-atrial shunt in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means defining said first chamber and said means defining said second chamber are composed of a flexible, self-sealing rubbery material and said valve means is a one-way flap valve positioned within said first chamber and operative to close said inlet passageway.

4. A drainage device for use as a ventriculo-atrial shunt in accordance with claim 1 wherein said inlet means comprises a tube defining orifices positioned within said second chamber.

5. A drainage device in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising means for preventing collapse of said first and second chambers.

6. A drainage device for use in a living body comprising means defining a first chamber and formed of a flexible, rubbery material, means defining a second chamber and formed of a flexible, rubbery material, said second chamber being positioned overlying and in contact with said means defining said first chamber, inlet means for passing fluid to said first and second chambers, outlet means for passing fluid out of said first chamber, and valve means in fluid communication with said inlet means for allowing entrance of fluid to said first chamber from said inlet means but preventing backflow of fluid to said inlet means from said first chamber while allowing backflow of fluid from said second chamber to said inlet means.

7. A drainage device for use as a ventriculo-atrial shunt comprising, first flexible means defining a first chamber having an outlet passageway and an inlet passageway, said first flexible means comprising a wall, second flexible means defining a second chamber overlying said first chamber with said second chamber defined in part by said wall, an inlet means defining a first opening for passing fluids to said first chamber, said inlet means defining a second opening to said second chamber, and valve means in fluid communication with said first opening permitting passage of fluids to said first chamber from said inlet means and preventing backflow of fluids to said inlet means from said first chamber without closing said second opening to said second chamber.

8. A drainage device for use as a ventriculo-atrial shunt in accordance with claim 6 and further comprising said valve means being a one-way flap valve lying within said first chamber and operative to close said inlet passageway.

9. A drainage device for use as a ventriculo-atrial shunt in accordance with claim 7 wherein said second flexible means defines said second chamber lying partially surrounding said first chamber, and said first and second flexible means are formed of self-sealing rubber.

10. A drainage device for use as a ventriculo-atrial shunt in accordance with claim 9 wherein said second flexible means defines said second chamber completely surrounding said first chamber.

11. A drainage device for use as a ventriculo-atrial shunt comprising, means defining a first chamber having an outlet passageway and an inlet passageway, means defining a second chamber with said second chamber surrounding at least one surface of said first chamber, an outlet means from said first chamber for removing fluid from said first chamber through said outlet passageway, an inlet means for passing fluids to both said first and second chamber, and valve means in fluid communication with said inlet means for permitting passage of fluids to said first chamber from said inlet means through said second chamber but preventing backflow of fluids from said first chamber to said second chamber while simultaneously not obstructing backflow of fluids from said second chamber to saId inlet means.

12. A drainage device in accordance with claim 11 wherein said second chamber completely surrounds said first chamber.

13. A drainage device in accordance with claim 11 wherein said means defining said first chamber and said means defining said second chamber include a common wall.

14. A drainage device in accordance with claim 11 wherein means defining said first chamber and said means defining said second chamber are formed of flexible self-sealing material.

15. A drainage device in accordance with claim 14 wherein said means defining said first chamber and said means defining said second chamber include a common wall, said outlet means comprising a tube passing through said second chamber.

16. A method of relieving fluid pressure in a ventricle by the use of a drainage device having an inlet means, a second chamber about overlying a first chamber, a valve means in said first chamber and an outlet means from said first chamber leading to a distant area, said method comprising, positioning said drainage device with said inlet means in said ventricle, passing said fluid through said inlet means to said second chamber and collecting foreign materials in said second chamber if present in said fluid, passing said fluid to said first chamber and through said outlet means, and subsequently applying pressure to said second chamber and simultaneously to said first chamber through said second chamber to flush said second chamber through said inlet means and to activate said valve means to prevent backflow of fluid from said first chamber to said inlet means.

17. A drainage device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means defining said first chamber and said means defining said second chamber are each formed of a flexible, self-sealing rubbery material.