Self adjusting hydrocephalus valve

• US 7,922,685 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2007
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Codman & Shurtleff Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Codman & Shurtleff Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Rosenberg, Meir
• Primary Examiner(s): DEAK, LESLIE R
• Application Number:
  US11/952,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20080132823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 604 7- 10, 604/6.16, 604/264
• US Class Current: 604/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/006 Cerebrospinal drainage; Accessories therefor, e.g. valves
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/0619 acting directly on the obturator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86485 Line condition change responsive release of valve

Abstract

A self adjusting hydrocephalus valve that continuously drains cerebrospinal fluid at a rate which is proportional to the average pressure difference across the valve. The valve employs a ball-in-cone mechanism having an associated biasing element that is insensitive to high frequency pressure variations for regulating the opening of the valve mechanism. The biasing element includes flexible bellows having a preset tension.

Claims

1. A self adjusting hydrocephalus valve for regulating cerebrospinal fluid in a patient, comprising:

a housing enclosing therein a chamber that is able to permit fluid flow therethrough;

an inlet port in fluid communication with the chamber to accommodate passage of fluid into the chamber, and an outlet port in fluid communication with the chamber to accommodate passage of fluid out of the chamber; and

a valve mechanism disposed within the housing for regulating the rate of fluid flow through the chamber, the valve mechanism including a valve seat adjacent to an opening in the inlet port, a blocking member configured to seat in the valve seat, and a biasing element for exerting a biasing force against the blocking member to selectively maintain the blocking member against the valve seat and prevent fluid flow therethrough, the biasing element being configured to respond to a pressure difference within the valve, the biasing element having an adjustable, damped resistance to allow fluid release at a rate which is proportional to an average pressure difference over time, wherein the biasing element comprises a closed fluidic system.

2. The valve of claim 1, wherein the biasing element comprises a spring element.

3. The valve of claim 1, wherein the biasing element comprises at least one flexible bellows.

4. The valve of claim 3, wherein the at least one flexible bellows is formed from a biocompatible elastomeric material.

5. The valve of claim 3, wherein the biasing element comprises two flexible bellows in fluid communication via an orifice.

6. The valve of claim 3, wherein the biasing element comprises at least one flexible bellows including an orifice allowing fluid to pass therethrough, the orifice having a size adapted to create a delayed response to pressure exerted on the blocking member.

7. The valve of claim 1, further comprising:

a support member securing the at least one flexible bellows to the housing.

8. The valve of claim 7, wherein the support member includes at least one aperture permitting fluid flow therethrough.

9. A self adjusting hydrocephalus valve for regulating cerebrospinal fluid in a patient, comprising:

a valve mechanism disposed within a housing for regulating a fluid flow rate through the housing, the valve mechanism comprising;

(i) a blocking member configured block an inlet to the housing, and

(ii) a biasing element for biasing the blocking member against the inlet to the housing to prevent fluid flow through the inlet, the biasing element being configured to respond to a pressure difference between an outside environment of the housing and an inside environment of the housing, the biasing element having an adjustable, damped resistance to the pressure difference, wherein the biasing element comprises a closed fluidic system.

10. The valve of claim 9, wherein the biasing element is configured such that the fluid flow rate through the housing depends on an average difference in pressure between the inside and outside of the housing over a time period when pressure outside of the housing varies over the time period.

11. The valve of claim 9, wherein the biasing element comprises at least one flexible bellows.

12. The valve of claim 11, wherein the biasing element comprises at least one flexible bellows including an orifice allowing fluid to pass therethrough, the orifice having a size adapted to create a delayed response to pressure exerted on the blocking member.

13. The valve of claim 11, wherein the biasing element comprises two flexible bellows in fluid communication via an orifice.

14. The valve of claim 11, further comprising:

a support member securing the at least one flexible bellows to the housing, the support member includes at least one aperture permitting fluid flow therethrough.