Valve position sensor
First Claim
1. An IOP control device for implantation in an eye of a patient, comprising:
- a housing sized for implantation into the eye of the patient and including an entrance port and an exit port;
a membrane anchored within the housing in a manner forming a flow control chamber on a first side of the membrane and a fluid flow passageway on a second opposing side of the membrane, the flow control chamber including a flow control chamber pressure and the fluid flow passageway including a fluid flow passageway pressure, the membrane configured to affect flow through the fluid flow passageway from the entrance port to the exit port by deflecting in response to pressure differentials of the flow control chamber pressure and the fluid flow channel pressure acting on the opposing sides of the membrane; and
a position sensor system configured to detect the position of the membrane including;
a first conductive portion positioned on the membrane; and
a second conductive portion positioned on the housing between the entrance port and the exit port, and positioned to selectively contact the first conductive portion to indicate the position of the membrane relative to the fluid flow passageway;
wherein the first and second conductive portions are sized and shaped to form a seal that occludes flow through the fluid flow passageway when the first and second conductive portions are in contact.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An IOP control device for implantation in an eye of a patient is disclosed, including a housing with an entrance port and an exit port, a membrane anchored within the housing in a manner forming a flow control chamber on a first side of the membrane and a fluid flow passageway on a second opposing side of the membrane, and a position sensor system. The flow control chamber is arranged to contain a gas creating a flow control chamber pressure, and the membrane is configured to affect flow through the fluid flow passageway from the entrance port to the exit port by deflecting in response to changes in the flow control chamber pressure. The position sensor system includes a first conductive portion and a second conductive portion positioned to selectively contact the first conductive portion to indicate the position of the membrane relative to the fluid flow passageway.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. An IOP control device for implantation in an eye of a patient, comprising:
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a housing sized for implantation into the eye of the patient and including an entrance port and an exit port; a membrane anchored within the housing in a manner forming a flow control chamber on a first side of the membrane and a fluid flow passageway on a second opposing side of the membrane, the flow control chamber including a flow control chamber pressure and the fluid flow passageway including a fluid flow passageway pressure, the membrane configured to affect flow through the fluid flow passageway from the entrance port to the exit port by deflecting in response to pressure differentials of the flow control chamber pressure and the fluid flow channel pressure acting on the opposing sides of the membrane; and a position sensor system configured to detect the position of the membrane including; a first conductive portion positioned on the membrane; and a second conductive portion positioned on the housing between the entrance port and the exit port, and positioned to selectively contact the first conductive portion to indicate the position of the membrane relative to the fluid flow passageway; wherein the first and second conductive portions are sized and shaped to form a seal that occludes flow through the fluid flow passageway when the first and second conductive portions are in contact. - 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, 39)
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24. An IOP control system for implantation in an eye of a patient, comprising:
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a drainage tube configured to convey aqueous humor from an anterior chamber of the eye; and a flow system in fluid communication with the drainage tube and including; a housing including a valve seat positioned between an entrance port and an exit port from the drainage tube; a membrane, the membrane anchored within the housing to form a flow control chamber having a flow control chamber pressure on a first side of the membrane, the implantable device being actuatable in response to a flow control chamber pressure and the membrane being configured to control flow rates of the aqueous humor along the drainage tube by deflecting in response to the flow control chamber pressure; and a position sensor system including; a first conductive portion positioned on the membrane; and a second conductive portion positioned on the valve seat between the entrance port and the exit port; wherein the first and second conductive portions are sized and shaped to form a seal that occludes flow of the aqueous humor through the drainage tube when the first and second conductive portions are in contact. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of regulating drainage from an anterior chamber of an eye with an implantable device, comprising:
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directing fluid from an entrance port through a fluid flow passageway formed in part by a flexible membrane, the membrane configured to deflect away from and toward a valve seat to throttle flow by increasing or decreasing the size of the fluid flow passageway; determining a valve state of the implantable device using a position sensor system configured to detect a position of the membrane relative to the valve seat, wherein determining a valve state comprises detecting a voltage change with a position sensor system, the position sensor system comprising a first conductive portion on the membrane in alignment with a second conductive portion on the valve seat; and modifying the amount of drainage through the implantable device in response to a flow control pressure acting on the membrane by deflecting the membrane to increase or decrease the size of the fluid flow passageway based on the valve state of the implantable device, wherein deflecting the membrane comprises contacting the first and second conductive portions of the position sensor system to form a seal that occludes flow of the fluid through the fluid flow passageway. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification