Implantable shunt system and method of assembly
First Claim
1. A surgically implantable shunt system, comprising:
- an inlet;
an outlet;
a first base adjacent to the inlet, the first base including an inlet fluid passageway therethrough and a first valve seat surrounding a portion of the inlet fluid passageway;
a first flow control member attached to the first base and being positioned with respect to the first valve seat to normally permit free fluid flow through the inlet fluid passageway, and alternately, to selectively contact the first valve seat in a manner to occlude the inlet fluid passageway;
a second base adjacent to the outlet, the second base including an outlet fluid passageway therethrough and a second valve seat surrounding a portion of the outlet fluid passageway; and
a second flow control member attached to the second base so that the second flow control member contacts the second valve seat in a manner normally occluding the outlet fluid passageway but selectively opening to permit controlled unidirectional flow therethrough.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgically implantable shunt system, including a flow control valve and an antechamber, is provided for controlling the release of entrapped body fluids. The flow control valve includes a pair of molded plastic bases situated, respectively, adjacent to an inlet and an outlet of the valve, which bases are situated within a flexible encasement. Each base includes an outer housing, a valve membrane carrier positioned within the housing, and a flow control member. The flow control members each include a rigid nail-like central support and a separate flexible resilient membrane positioned on the central support. A first flow control member is capable of selectively occluding the valve inlet, but is normally spaced from its base to permit free fluid flow through the inlet. The second flow control member is generally arch-shaped and resiliently biased to contact its respective base generally along the outer edge of the membrane in a manner permitting only controlled one-way flow through the valve. The antechamber permits injection of medication into the shunt between a proximal catheter and the distal flow control valve, and pumping of the medication in either direction. Additionally, a method for assembling the shunt system in a quick and economical manner is provided, which utilizes tapered grommets to anchor components in place prior to adhesively securing tubing to the flexible encasement.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A surgically implantable shunt system, comprising:
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an inlet; an outlet; a first base adjacent to the inlet, the first base including an inlet fluid passageway therethrough and a first valve seat surrounding a portion of the inlet fluid passageway; a first flow control member attached to the first base and being positioned with respect to the first valve seat to normally permit free fluid flow through the inlet fluid passageway, and alternately, to selectively contact the first valve seat in a manner to occlude the inlet fluid passageway; a second base adjacent to the outlet, the second base including an outlet fluid passageway therethrough and a second valve seat surrounding a portion of the outlet fluid passageway; and a second flow control member attached to the second base so that the second flow control member contacts the second valve seat in a manner normally occluding the outlet fluid passageway but selectively opening to permit controlled unidirectional flow therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 42)
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15. An implantable flow control valve for controlling the flow of fluid from one portion of the human body to another, said valve comprising:
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an inlet; an outlet; a first base adjacent to the inlet and including a first outer housing and a first valve membrane carrier securely positioned within the first outer housing, the first outer housing and the first valve membrane carrier defining an inlet fluid passageway and a first valve seat surrounding a portion of the inlet fluid passageway; a second base adjacent to the outlet and including a second outer housing and a second valve membrane carrier securely positioned within the second outer housing, the second outer housing and the second valve membrane carrier defining an outlet fluid passageway and a second valve seat surrounding a portion of the outlet fluid passageway, wherein the second outer housing forms an outlet chamber; a flexible encasement generally surrounding the first and second bases, wherein the encasement is deformable by external pressure to facilitate manual flushing of the valve, the flexible encasement defining an intermediate fluid passageway between the inlet and outlet fluid passageways; a first flow control member including a first rigid central support and a first arch-like flexible resilient membrane, the first central support being attached to the first valve membrane carrier and extending therefrom to support the first resilient membrane with respect to the first valve seat to normally permit free fluid flow through the inlet fluid passageway, the first resilient membrane further being positioned so that upon deformation of the encasement to flush the valve, the membrane temporarily contacts the first valve seat in a manner to occlude the inlet fluid passageway; and a second flow control member including a second rigid central support and a second arch-like resilient membrane, the second central support being attached to the second valve membrane carrier and extending therefrom to support the second resilient membrane adjacent to the second valve seat, the second resilient membrane being resiliently biased to contact the second valve seat in a manner normally occluding the outlet fluid passageway but selectively opening to permit controlled unidirectional flow therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A surgically implantable fluid shunt, comprising:
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an inlet; an outlet; a rigid base which resists deformation, the base having an inlet surface in communication with the inlet and an outlet surface in communication with the outlet; an aperture through the base for permitting flow of fluid through the shunt from the inlet to the outlet; and a flow control member for controlling the flow of fluid from the inlet to the outlet, the flow control member including a rigid nail and an arch-like flexible resilient membrane fixed to the nail, wherein the nail is attached to the base adjacent to the aperture and extends therefrom to position the resilient membrane with a concave side thereof in facing relation with the inlet, the resilient membrane being resiliently biased such that outermost edges of the membrane contact the base in a manner normally preventing fluid flow through the shunt, the membrane selectively opening to permit controlled unidirectional flow through the shunt from the inlet to the outlet. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A flow control member for use with an implantable flow control valve for controlling the flow of fluid from one portion of the human body to another, the valve including a base invested within a valve housing, wherein the base forms a wall separating an inlet of the valve from an outlet of the valve, the base including at least one aperture therethrough for permitting flow of fluid through the valve from the inlet to the outlet, the flow control member comprising:
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a rigid nail having an elongated shaft and an expanded head at an end of the shaft, the nail capable of being driven into the base and frictionally retained therein, or otherwise attached to the base, so that the head is suspended beyond the one side of the base; and a flexible resilient membrane positioned and retained on the shaft adjacent to the head, the membrane being generally arch-shaped and resiliently biased for contacting the base in a manner preventing fluid flow through the aperture from the inlet of the valve to the outlet of the valve. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for assembling an implantable shunt system including a flow control valve for controlling the flow of fluid from one portion of the human body to another, the valve including at least one base invested within a valve housing and at least one flow control member, wherein the at least one base forms a wall separating an inlet of the valve from an outlet of the valve, the at least one base including at least one aperture therethrough for permitting flow of fluid through the valve from the inlet to the outlet, the steps comprising:
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fixing the at least one flow control member to the at least one base in a manner permitting only controlled unidirectional fluid flow through the shunt; attaching a first section of tubing to the at least one base by sliding an end of the first section of tubing into the base, placing a first tubing grommet into the end of the first tubing section to expand the end thereof, and then pulling the first section of tubing so the expanded end of the first tubing section engages the at least one base and forms a frictional attachment therewith; attaching a second section of tubing to the at least one base by sliding an end of the second section of tubing into the base, placing a second tubing grommet into the end of the second tubing section to expand the end thereof, and then pulling the second section of tubing so the expanded end of the second tubing section engages the at least one base and forms a frictional attachment therewith, wherein the first and second sections of tubing, when so attached, define, in part, the inlet and outlet of the valve; sliding the housing over the tubing to envelope the at least one base and adjacent sections of the first and second sections of tubing; and sealing the housing to respective adjacent portions of the first and second sections of tubing. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44)
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Specification