Three stage implantable flow control valve with improved valve closure member

• US 4,781,672 A
• Filed: 10/21/1986
• Issued: 11/01/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NMT NeuroSciences (International), Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cordis Corporation (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hooven, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/922,079
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 137/504, 137/508, 137/510, 137/859, 137/845, 604/8-10, 604/247
• US Class Current: 604/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/006 Cerebrospinal drainage; Accessories therefor, e.g. valves
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0113 the sensing element acting as a valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7834 Valve seat or external sleeve moves to open valve

Abstract

An implantable valve for controlling the passage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a ventricle of the brain to a suitable drainage location in the body includes a movable diaphragm responsive to pressure differentials between the ventricle and the drainage location. When the pressure differential is below a minimum threshold level, the valve is closed and CSF flow is prevented. When the pressure differential increases beyond the minimum threshold, the valve operates in a constant pressure mode to maintain a first predetermined CSF pressure differential across the valve. When the differential pressure increases beyond an intermediate threshold level, the valve operates in a flow control mode to maintain a desired CSF flow rate through the valve. When the pressure differential increases beyond a maximum threshold level, the valve operates in a constant pressure mode to maintain a second predetermined CSF pressure differential across the valve. To provide for the various valve operating modes, the valve includes a valve stem and a valve closure member, which coact with a valve seat carried on the diaphragm. The valve closure member defines an annular valving surface which coacts with the diaphragm to provide improved fluid control at low differential pressures.

Claims

1. A valve for controlling the passage of body fluids from one location in the body to another location, comprising:

a housing having first and second interior chambers;

inlet port means for establishing fluid communication between said first chamber and the one location;

outlet port means for establishing fluid communication between said second chamber and the other location;

partition means in said housing separating said first and second chambers and being movable in response to fluid pressure differential therebetween;

a valve seat forming part of said partition means and defining a fluid flow orifice to permit flow of fluid between said chambers;

a valve closure member including an annular valving surface in said first chamber for engaging said partition means in registry with and surrounding said orifice to prevent flow through said orifice when said pressure differential falls below a predetermined minimum level; and

a valve stem extending from said valve closure member and through said orifice into said second chamber, said valve stem including a flow metering surface which coacts with said valve seat to meter said fluid flow through said orifice as a function of the position of said partition means when said pressure differential exceeds said predetermined minimum level.

2. A valve as defined in claim 1 wherein the position of said valve closure member is adjustable relative to said partition means to vary said predetermined minimum pressure level.

3. A valve as defined in claim 2 wherein said housing includes a first movable member to which is attached said valve closure member and which provides for adjustment thereof;

and

a second movable member forming a part of said valve stem for adjustment thereof, both said first and second movable members being accessible externally of said housing for independent adjustment thereof.

4. A valve as defined in claim 2 wherein said valve closure member is provided with an aperture, said aperture receiving a portion of said valve stem whereby the position of said valve stem can be adjusted relative to said valve closure member.

5. A valve as defined in claim 1 wherein the positions of said valve stem and said valve closure member are independently adjustable within said housing.

6. In an intracranial pressure regulator valve adapted for transfer of cerebrospinal fluid from one location to another, said regulator valve including first and second fluid handling chambers separated by a flexible biocompatible diaphragm which retains a valve seat having a flow metering orifice, the improvement comprising:

a valve closure member including an annular valving surface in said first chamber for engaging the diaphragm in registry with and surrounding said orifice to prevent flow through said orifice when said pressure differential falls below a predetermined minimum level, said valve closure member being in combination with a valve stem extending from said valve closure member and through said orifice into said second chamber, said valve stem including a flow metering surface which coacts with said valve seat to meter the flow of fluid through said orifice as a function of the position of said diaphragm.

7. A valve as defined in claim 6 wherein the positions of said valve stem and said valve closure member are independently adjustable within said housing.

12. A valve as defined in claim 6 wherein the positions of said valve stem and said valve closure member are independently adjustable within said housing.

8. A valve for controlling the passage of body fluids from one location in the body to another location, comprising:

a housing having first and second interior chambers;

inlet port means for stabilizing fluid communication between said first chamber and the one location;

outlet port means for establishing fluid communication between said chamber and the other location;

valving means between said first chamber and said second chamber for regulating fluid flow between said first and second chambers, said valving means including a valve closure member, a valve seat defining a flow metering orifice and a valve stem extending through said orifice and providing a first condition in which fluid flow between said first and second chambers is prevented, a second condition in which fluid flow between said first and second chambers is sufficient to maintain a first substantially constant predetermined pressure differential between first and second chambers a third condition in which fluid flow between said first and second chambers is of a substantially constant rate, and a fourth condition in which fluid flow between said first and second chambers is sufficient to maintain a second substantially constant predetermined pressure differential between said first and second chambers;

partition means in said housing including a diaphragm separating said first and second chambers and movable in response to the pressure differential therebetween, said valve seat being carried on said diaphragm and being operatively associated with said valve closure member and said valve stem such that the flow of fluid between said first and second chambers is sequentially conditioned by a staged displacement of said partition means from said closure member from said first condition through said second and third conditions to said fourth condition whereby in response to an increasing pressure differential between said first and second chambers said valving means sequentially prevents the passage of fluids between the one location and the other location, maintains a constant fluid pressure differential between said first and second chambers maintains desired constant rate of fluid flow between the one location and other location, and maintains a second constant fluid pressure differential between said first and second chambers; and

wherein said valve closure member includes a generally annular valving surface for engaging said diaphragm in registry with and surrounding said orifice to prevent fluid flow through said orifice when said differential pressure falls below a predetermined minimum level, said valve closure member being in combination with said valve stem and extending from said valve closure member and through said orifice into said second chamber, said valve stem including a flow metering surface which coacts with said valve seat to meter the flow of fluid through said orifice as a function of the position of said diaphragm.

9. A valve as defined in claim 8 wherein the position of said valve closure member is adjustable relative to said partition means to vary said predetermined minimum pressure level.

10. A valve as defined in claim 9 wherein said housing includes a first movable member to which is attached said valve closure member and which provides for adjustment thereof;

and

a second movable member forming a part of said valve stem and which provides for adjustment thereof, both said first and second movable members being accessible externally of said housing for independent adjustment thereof.

11. A valve as defined in claim 8 wherein said housing includes

a first movable member to which is attached said valve closure member and which provides for adjustment thereof;

and

a second movable member forming a part of said valve stem and which provides for adjustment thereof, both said first and second movable members being accessible externally of said housing for independent adjustment thereof.

13. A valve as defined in claim 9 wherein said valve closure member is provided with an aperture, said aperture receiving a portion of said valve stem whereby the position of said valve stem can be adjusted relative to said valve closure member.