Glaucoma implant having MEMS flow module with flexing diaphragm for pressure regulation
First Claim
1. An implant for addressing pressure within a first body region, said implant comprising:
- a conduit comprising a flow path and adapted to fluidly interconnect with the first body region; and
a MEMS flow module associated with said flow path, wherein said MEMS flow module comprises;
a first plate comprising a first flow port;
a second plate comprising a second flow port, wherein said second plate is spaced from and structurally interconnected with said first plate; and
a first flow-restricting structure extending from one of said first and second plates at least toward the other of said first and second plates, wherein a spacing between said first flow-restricting structure and the other of said first and second plates defines a first flow restriction, and wherein at least one dimension of said first flow restriction changes based upon at least one of said first and second plates flexing in response to a development of at least a certain differential pressure across said MEMS flow module;
wherein said first plate comprises a first region and a second region that extends from said first region to a perimeter of said first plate, wherein said second plate comprises a third region and a fourth region that extends from said third region to a perimeter of said second plate, wherein said second region of said first plate comprises a plurality of said first flow ports, wherein said third region of said second plate comprises a plurality of said second flow ports, wherein a first link extends between said first and second plates and interfaces with said first plate within said first region and interfaces with said second plate within said third region, and wherein said fourth region of said second plate is at least substantially maintained in a fixed orientation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
One embodiment of a MEMS flow module (34) includes a first plate (36) and a second plate (48) that are separated by a first link (62). A plurality of concentrically disposed, annular flow-restricting walls (40) extend from the first plate (36), and each is separated from the second plate (48) by a flow-restricting gap (58). When the MEMS flow module (34) is exposed to a differential pressure and in one configuration, a perimeter (46) of the first plate (36) flexes away from the second plate (48) (and at least generally about where the first link (62) interfaces with the first plate (36)) to increase the size of one or more of the flow-restricting gaps (58), to in turn accommodate an increased flow or flow rate through the MEMS flow module (34).
144 Citations
44 Claims
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1. An implant for addressing pressure within a first body region, said implant comprising:
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a conduit comprising a flow path and adapted to fluidly interconnect with the first body region; and a MEMS flow module associated with said flow path, wherein said MEMS flow module comprises; a first plate comprising a first flow port; a second plate comprising a second flow port, wherein said second plate is spaced from and structurally interconnected with said first plate; and a first flow-restricting structure extending from one of said first and second plates at least toward the other of said first and second plates, wherein a spacing between said first flow-restricting structure and the other of said first and second plates defines a first flow restriction, and wherein at least one dimension of said first flow restriction changes based upon at least one of said first and second plates flexing in response to a development of at least a certain differential pressure across said MEMS flow module; wherein said first plate comprises a first region and a second region that extends from said first region to a perimeter of said first plate, wherein said second plate comprises a third region and a fourth region that extends from said third region to a perimeter of said second plate, wherein said second region of said first plate comprises a plurality of said first flow ports, wherein said third region of said second plate comprises a plurality of said second flow ports, wherein a first link extends between said first and second plates and interfaces with said first plate within said first region and interfaces with said second plate within said third region, and wherein said fourth region of said second plate is at least substantially maintained in a fixed orientation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An implant for addressing pressure within a first body region, said implant comprising:
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a conduit comprising a flow path and adapted to fluidly interconnect with the first body region; and a MEMS flow module associated with said flow path, wherein said MEMS flow module comprises; a first plate comprising first and second regions, wherein said first region of said first plate is disposed about said second region of said first plate, wherein said first and second regions each comprise a plurality of first flow ports, wherein said first region of said first plate comprises at least one first flow-restricting structure, and wherein said second region of said first plate comprises at least one second flow-restricting structure; and a second plate comprising first and second regions, wherein said first region of said second plate is disposed about said second region of said second plate, wherein said first and second regions of said second plate each comprise a plurality of second flow ports, wherein each of said first and second flow-restricting structures extends from said first plate at least toward said second plate, wherein a space between each said first and second flow-restricting structure defines first and second flow restrictions, respectively, wherein said first region of each of said first and second plates is maintained in an at least substantially fixed orientation, and wherein said second region of at least one of said first and second plates flexes in response to a development of at least a certain differential pressure across said MEMS flow module to change at least one dimension of at least one said second flow restriction; wherein the first region of the first plate extends from said second region of the first plate to a perimeter of said first plate, wherein the first region of the second plate from said second region to a perimeter of said second plate, wherein a first link extends between said first and second plates and interfaces with said first plate within said second region of the first plate and interfaces with said second plate within said second region of the second plate, and wherein said first region of said second plate is at least substantially maintained in a fixed orientation. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification