Implantable adjustable fluid flow control valve
First Claim
1. A subcutaneously implantable and percutaneously adjustable fluid flow control device, comprising:
- an inlet for the control device;
an outlet for the control device spaced from the inlet; and
a valve apparatus for controlling fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet, the valve apparatus comprising;
a valve housing including a fluid passageway therethrough having a peripheral surface forming a valve seat;
a valve element adjacent to the valve seat;
means for biasing the valve element against the valve seat to keep the fluid passageway closed until a fluid pressure differential between the inlet and the outlet exceeds a selected valve opening pressure; and
means for adjusting a bias applied to the valve element by the biasing means, the adjusting means including a fixed dual concentric stair-step array and an overlying rotor assembly having a first surface which supports the biasing means and a second surface which is supported by the dual concentric stair-step array, wherein the rotor assembly is rotatable in response to a percutaneously-applied magnetic field and such rotation of the rotor assembly permits selected seating of the second surface on the stair-step array to raise or lower the rotor assembly with respect to the stair-step array.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A subcutaneously implantable and percutaneously adjustable fluid flow control device includes a magnetically adjustable valve for controlling fluid flow from an inlet to an outlet. The valve includes a housing having a fluid passageway therethrough, a valve element designed to bear upon a valve seat to close the passageway to fluid flow, and a spring which biases the valve element against the valve seat so as to keep the passageway closed until a fluid pressure differential between the inlet and the outlet exceeds a selected valve opening pressure. A fixed dual concentric stair-step array and an overlying rotor assembly permit the amount of bias applied to the valve element by the spring to be adjusted. The rotor assembly is adapted to rotate in response to an external or percutaneously-applied magnetic field. In one embodiment, the rotor assembly may be locked into one of several possible rotational positions relative to the stair-step array to prevent rotation thereof.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A subcutaneously implantable and percutaneously adjustable fluid flow control device, comprising:
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an inlet for the control device; an outlet for the control device spaced from the inlet; and a valve apparatus for controlling fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet, the valve apparatus comprising; a valve housing including a fluid passageway therethrough having a peripheral surface forming a valve seat; a valve element adjacent to the valve seat; means for biasing the valve element against the valve seat to keep the fluid passageway closed until a fluid pressure differential between the inlet and the outlet exceeds a selected valve opening pressure; and means for adjusting a bias applied to the valve element by the biasing means, the adjusting means including a fixed dual concentric stair-step array and an overlying rotor assembly having a first surface which supports the biasing means and a second surface which is supported by the dual concentric stair-step array, wherein the rotor assembly is rotatable in response to a percutaneously-applied magnetic field and such rotation of the rotor assembly permits selected seating of the second surface on the stair-step array to raise or lower the rotor assembly with respect to the stair-step array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A subcutaneously implantable and percutaneously adjustable fluid flow control device, comprising:
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an inlet for the control device; an outlet for the control device spaced from the inlet; a valve apparatus for controlling fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet, the valve apparatus comprising; a valve housing including a fluid passageway therethrough having a peripheral surface forming a valve seat; a valve element adjacent to the valve seat; and means for biasing the valve element against the valve seat to keep the fluid passageway closed until a fluid pressure differential between the inlet and the outlet exceeds a selected valve opening pressure, the biasing means including a fixed stair-step array and an adjacent rotor assembly adapted to rotate relative to the stair-step array in response to a percutaneously-applied magnetic field, wherein such rotation raises or lowers the rotor assembly with respect to the stair-step array; and a pump situated between the inlet and the valve means, wherein the pump provides means for flushing fluid through the device by the percutaneous application of pressure to the pump. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A subcutaneously implantable and percutaneously adjustable fluid flow control device, comprising:
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an inlet for the control device; an outlet for the control device spaced from the inlet; valve means for controlling fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet, the valve means comprising; a valve housing having a threaded aperture and a flow regulator insert threaded into the threaded aperture to define a fluid passageway therethrough, the fluid passageway having a peripheral surface forming a valve seat; a valve element adjacent to the valve seat; first spring means for biasing the valve element against the valve seat to keep the fluid passageway closed until a fluid pressure differential between the inlet and the outlet exceeds a selected valve opening pressure; means for adjusting a bias applied to the valve element by the first spring means, the adjusting means including a fixed dual concentric stair-step array and an overlying rotor assembly having a first surface which supports an end of the first spring means, and a second surface which is supported by the dual concentric stair-step array, wherein the rotor assembly is rotatable in response to a magnetic field and such rotation of the rotor assembly permits selected seating of the second surface on the stair-step array to raise or lower the rotor assembly with respect to the stair-step array, the dual concentric stair-step array including a central rotor pivot, a plurality of inner steps surrounding the rotor pivot, and a plurality of outer steps extending peripherally about the inner steps, the rotor assembly including a magnet embedded within a base having an inner leg adapted to bear against a selected one of the plurality of inner steps, an outer leg disposed diametrically opposite the inner leg and adapted to bear against a selected one of the plurality of outer steps, a central aperture through which the rotor pivot extends, and a rotor cap fixed to the base on a side thereof opposite the inner and outer legs, the rotor cap providing the first surface of the rotor assembly and including a central aperture aligned with the central aperture of the base through which the rotor pivot extends; and second spring means having one end bearing against a portion of the valve housing and another end bearing against the first surface of the rotor assembly; and a pump situated between the inlet and the valve means, wherein the pump provides means for flushing fluid through the device by the percutaneous application of pressure to the pump. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A subcutaneously implantable and percutaneously adjustable fluid flow control device, comprising:
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an inlet for the control device; an outlet for the control device spaced from the inlet; and a valve apparatus for controlling fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet, the valve apparatus comprising; a valve housing including a fluid passageway therethrough having a peripheral surface forming a valve seat; a valve element adjacent to the valve seat; and an assembly for biasing the valve element against the valve seat to keep the fluid passageway closed until a fluid pressure differential between the inlet and the outlet exceeds a selected valve opening pressure, the biasing assembly including a fixed stair-step array and an adjacent rotor assembly adapted to rotate relative to the stair-step array in response to a percutaneously-applied magnetic field, wherein such rotation raises or lowers the rotor assembly with respect to the stair-step array. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification