Electroactive polymer actuated cerebrospinal fluid shunt
First Claim
1. A cerebrospinal fluid shunt system comprising:
- a valve having a longitudinal axis, the valve comprising an electroactive polymer, a ring element, a ball, and a spring, the spring positioned between the ring element and the ball, wherein, when actuated, the electroactive polymer is configured to apply a force to the ring element in a longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal axis causing the ring element to slide in the longitudinal direction and thereby provide a force on the ball through the spring;
the electroactive polymer being configured as a pressure sensor to detect a pressure differential between an inlet of the valve and an outlet of the valve;
an internal control unit configured to transmit the detected pressure differential; and
an external control unit configured to receive the transmitted pressure differential;
wherein, in response to receiving the pressure differential, the external control unit provides a signal to the electroactive polymer causing the electroactive polymer to modify a force on the ring element to adjust the valve pressure, thereby allowing the valve pressure to be adjusted after the valve has been implanted in a patient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt comprises a ventricular catheter and an electroactive polymer actuated valve for regulating the drainage rate of CSF from the brain ventricle of a patient. The shunt system also comprises a distal catheter for discharge of the CSF to a separate location in the patient'"'"'s body such as the peritoneal cavity or atrium of the heart. The electroactive polymer actuated valve regulates the flow rate of CSF through a predetermined threshold pressure, which can be adjusted and programmed externally from the patient'"'"'s body by means of an external control unit signal, as well as through a signal indicated by an internal sensor or an electroactive polymer transducer. The sensor also communicates a signal to the external control unit for indicating the internal pressure at a single location or multiple locations throughout the fully implanted shunt assembly.
21 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A cerebrospinal fluid shunt system comprising:
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a valve having a longitudinal axis, the valve comprising an electroactive polymer, a ring element, a ball, and a spring, the spring positioned between the ring element and the ball, wherein, when actuated, the electroactive polymer is configured to apply a force to the ring element in a longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal axis causing the ring element to slide in the longitudinal direction and thereby provide a force on the ball through the spring; the electroactive polymer being configured as a pressure sensor to detect a pressure differential between an inlet of the valve and an outlet of the valve; an internal control unit configured to transmit the detected pressure differential; and an external control unit configured to receive the transmitted pressure differential; wherein, in response to receiving the pressure differential, the external control unit provides a signal to the electroactive polymer causing the electroactive polymer to modify a force on the ring element to adjust the valve pressure, thereby allowing the valve pressure to be adjusted after the valve has been implanted in a patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A shunt system implantable in a body comprising:
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a ventricular catheter having a first end and a second end, the first end of the ventricular catheter configured to be inserted into the brain ventricle within the body; a distal catheter having a first end and a second end, the first end of the distal catheter configured to be inserted into a secondary cavity within the body; and an electroactive polymer actuated valve having a longitudinal axis and comprising an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture, the second end of the ventricular catheter coupled to the inlet aperture and the second end of the distal catheter coupled to the outlet aperture, the electroactive polymer actuated valve configured to regulate a flow rate of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) being redirected from the brain ventricle to the secondary cavity, the electroactive polymer actuated valve having an adjustable threshold pressure to regulate the flow rate of the CSF; wherein the flow rate of the CSF is adjusted by actuating at least one electroactive polymer of the electroactive polymer actuated valve to cause the at least one electroactive polymer to apply a force, directed in a longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, to a moveable ring element within the electroactive polymer actuated valve causing the moveable ring element to slide in the longitudinal direction and thereby modify a force on a ball within the electroactive polymer actuated valve, thereby allowing the CSF to be adjusted after the shunt system has been implanted in the body, the electroactive polymer actuated valve having a spring member disposed between the moveable ring element and the ball. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A shunt system implantable in a body comprising:
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an electroactive polymer actuated means for regulating a flow rate of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) being redirected from the brain ventricle to a secondary cavity within the body, the electroactive polymer actuated means having an adjustable threshold pressure to regulate the flow rate of the CSF, the electroactive polymer actuated means configured to regulate the flow rate by applying a force to a moveable ring element in a longitudinal direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the electroactive polymer actuated means, the force causing the moveable ring element to slide in the longitudinal direction and thereby modify a corresponding force on a ball through a spring positioned between the ring element and the ball, wherein the moveable ring element, ball, and spring reside within a flow path of the CSF; means for sensing pressure created by the CSF and generating a signal indicative of the pressure; and control means for receiving the pressure signal and controlling the electroactive polymer actuated means, based on the sensed pressure, to regulate the flow rate of the CSF after the shunt system is implanted in the body. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification