Selectable varied control valve systems for IOP control systems
First Claim
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1. A selectable IOP valve for implantation in an eye of a patient, comprising:
- a flow control valve system configured to control flow rates of aqueous, the valve system comprising;
a plurality of flow control pathways arranged to operate in parallel with each other, each of the flow control pathways being in communication with an entry port to the valve system,a flow control mechanism associated with each of the plurality of flow control pathways, the flow control mechanism being arranged to selectively control aqueous flow rates through the flow control pathways, anda flexible membrane, wherein the flexible membrane is selectively actuatable by the flow control mechanism to occlude at least one of the plurality of flow control pathways to selectively increase or decrease the flow rate of the aqueous through the flow control valve system.
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Abstract
A selectable IOP valve for implantation in an eye of a patient controls IOP and/or bleb pressure. The valve includes a drainage tube configured to convey aqueous from an anterior chamber of an eye and includes a selectable flow control valve in fluid communication with the drainage tube and configured to control flow rates of the aqueous. The valve system includes a plurality of flow control pathways arranged to operate in parallel with each other, each of the flow control pathways being in communication with an entry port to the valve system. A flow control mechanism controls aqueous flow through the pathways. Methods and systems are also disclosed.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A selectable IOP valve for implantation in an eye of a patient, comprising:
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a flow control valve system configured to control flow rates of aqueous, the valve system comprising; a plurality of flow control pathways arranged to operate in parallel with each other, each of the flow control pathways being in communication with an entry port to the valve system, a flow control mechanism associated with each of the plurality of flow control pathways, the flow control mechanism being arranged to selectively control aqueous flow rates through the flow control pathways, and a flexible membrane, wherein the flexible membrane is selectively actuatable by the flow control mechanism to occlude at least one of the plurality of flow control pathways to selectively increase or decrease the flow rate of the aqueous through the flow control valve system. - 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, 29, 30)
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31. A selectable IOP valve for implantation in an eye of a patient, comprising:
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a drainage pathway arranged to carry aqueous from an anterior chamber of an eye; a first flow control pathway in communication with the drainage pathway; a second flow control pathway in communication with the drainage pathway the first and second flow control pathways being arranged to carry aqueous in parallel from the drainage pathway; and a flow control mechanism associated with both the first and second flow control pathways, wherein the flow control mechanism comprises a single membrane configured to be displaced to increase or decrease aqueous flow rates through the first and second flow control pathways, and wherein the membrane intersects an axis of each of the first and second flow control pathways to selectively occlude the flow of the aqueous through an end of the first and second flow control pathways. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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34. A method performed by an IOP control system that drains aqueous from an anterior chamber of the eye to a drainage location of the eye, comprising:
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detecting pressure within an anterior chamber of the eye; detecting pressure at a drainage location of the eye; determining whether to adjust drainage aqueous flow based on the detected pressures by comparing the detected pressures in both the anterior chamber and the drainage location to pre-established acceptable pressures; and adjusting drainage aqueous flow from the anterior chamber by adjusting access to at least one of a plurality of parallel flow paths to achieve pressures in both the anterior chamber and the drainage location corresponding to the acceptable pressures, wherein adjusting access to the at least one of a plurality of parallel flow paths includes adjusting a flow control mechanism associated with the plurality of parallel flow paths, the flow control mechanism comprising a flexible membrane configured to be displaced to increase or decrease aqueous flow through the at least one of a plurality of parallel flow paths, the flexible membrane intersecting an axis of each of the plurality of parallel flow paths to selectively occlude the flow of the aqueous through an end of the plurality of parallel flow paths. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification