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Implantable adjustable fluid flow control valve

  • US 5,637,083 A
  • Filed: 01/19/1996
  • Issued: 06/10/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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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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