Wireless pressure setting indicator
First Claim
1. An implantable valve, comprising:
- a valve housing adapted to receive fluid flow therethrough between a valve inlet and a valve outlet;
a valve assembly disposed within the valve housing and having a plurality of predetermined pressure settings for controlling a rate of fluid flowing through the valve housing;
a radio frequency tag disposed in the valve housing and adapted to interact with a wireless signal to produce a response thereto; and
a masking element disposed in the valve housing, at least one of the masking element and the radio frequency tag being configured to rotate in a circular motion relative to the other one of the masking element and the radio frequency tag such that the masking element masks different portions of the radio frequency tag when the masking element and the radio frequency tag are in different rotational positions relative to one another to alter the response of the radio frequency tag and thereby indicate a pressure setting of the valve assembly.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods useful for non-invasively indicating the position or setting of a mechanical device, such as a sensor or control in an implanted medical device, are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, a valve housing adapted to receive fluid flow therethrough is provided. The flow of fluid through the valve housing can be controlled, for example, by a valve assembly that has a plurality of predetermined pressure settings. A radio frequency tag can be disposed in the valve assembly, and the masking element and the radio frequency tag can be configured to move relative to one another. The relative positions of the masking element and the radio frequency tag can alter the response of the radio frequency tag to a wireless signal (which can be emitted from an external reading device, for example) and thereby indicate the pressure setting of the valve assembly. For example, in some embodiments, the masking element can selectively cover at least part of the radio frequency tag according to the pressure setting of the valve assembly, which can change a characteristic of the radio frequency tag'"'"'s response to the wireless signal.
167 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An implantable valve, comprising:
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a valve housing adapted to receive fluid flow therethrough between a valve inlet and a valve outlet; a valve assembly disposed within the valve housing and having a plurality of predetermined pressure settings for controlling a rate of fluid flowing through the valve housing; a radio frequency tag disposed in the valve housing and adapted to interact with a wireless signal to produce a response thereto; and a masking element disposed in the valve housing, at least one of the masking element and the radio frequency tag being configured to rotate in a circular motion relative to the other one of the masking element and the radio frequency tag such that the masking element masks different portions of the radio frequency tag when the masking element and the radio frequency tag are in different rotational positions relative to one another to alter the response of the radio frequency tag and thereby indicate a pressure setting of the valve assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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11. An implantable valve, comprising:
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a valve housing adapted to receive fluid flow therethrough between a valve inlet and a valve outlet; a valve assembly disposed within the valve housing and having a plurality of selectable positions that each allow fluid to flow through the valve assembly at different pressure settings; a radio frequency tag disposed in the valve housing and adapted to interact with a wireless signal to produce a response thereto; and a masking element disposed in the valve housing, at least one of the masking element and the radio frequency tag is configured to rotate relative to the other one of the masking element and the radio frequency tag such that different portions of the radio frequency tag are covered by the masking element when the masking element and the radio frequency tag are in different rotational positions relative to one another to alter the response of the radio frequency tag and thereby indicate the selected position of the valve assembly. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification