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Implantable adjustable valve

  • US 8,322,365 B2
  • Filed: 08/17/2010
  • Issued: 12/04/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2010
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A valve unit capable of being implanted in a patient and having adjustable performance settings to regulate passage of a bodily fluid, comprising:

  • a casing defining a port for the bodily fluid;

    a valve mechanism positioned at the port and including a movable valve member;

    a rotor disposed at a first location in the casing and having an axle which turns about an axis of rotation, the rotor defining a plurality of radially flat cam surfaces, each cam surface occupying an arc about the axis of rotation; and

    a spring arm unit disposed at a second location in the casing having a cam follower arm in slidable contact with the cam surfaces of the rotor and having a resilient spring element applying a closing effect with the movable valve member at the port to establish a performance setting for the valve unit;

    wherein sufficient rotation of the rotor to change the cam surface in contact with the cam follower alters the closing effect with which the valve member moves relative to the port, and thereby alters the performance setting of the valve unit.

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