Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling internal pressure of an eye or body part
First Claim
1. A system for controlling pressure in a body part, comprising:
- an implantable tube, having a first open end and a second open end, the first open end configured to be disposed in a body part;
an implantable valve coupled to the second open end of the tube and having at least one open state and a closed state wherein the valve further comprises an implantable sleeve having first and second ends and having an orifice extending through a wall of the sleeve, and a blade positioned inside said sleeve, and formed at least in part from a material that is reactive to magnetic force, the blade configured to slide from a first position relative to the sleeve where the blade does not block the orifice and the valve is in the at least one open state, to a second position relative to the sleeve where the blade blocks the orifice and the valve is in at least one closed state, such that a position of the blade relative to the sleeve determines whether the valve is in the at least one open state or the closed state;
a first implantable sensor for actively obtaining at least one measurement of pressure within the body part; and
an implantable control device electrically coupled with the valve and the sensor, for receiving the at least one measurement and switching the valve between the at least one open state and the closed state based on the at least one measurement,wherein the tube is configured to drain fluids from the body part when the valve is in the at least one open state, due to a difference of pressure between the first and the second open end of the tube, the difference created by native differences in pressure of the body part to another body part.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for automatically monitoring and controlling pressure in a body part are disclosed. The systems include an implantable tube with one open end of the tube implanted in the body part, an implantable valve coupled with the tube having at least one open state and a closed state, an implantable sensor for measuring pressure, and an implantable control device coupled with the sensor and the valve. The control device switches the valve between the at least one open state and the closed state, based on pressure information received from the sensor. When the valve is in the at least one open state, the tube drains fluids from the body part due to a difference of pressure between the open ends of the tube. Methods for using the systems to administer drugs and monitor and control fluid pressures in various biological systems are also disclosed.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A system for controlling pressure in a body part, comprising:
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an implantable tube, having a first open end and a second open end, the first open end configured to be disposed in a body part; an implantable valve coupled to the second open end of the tube and having at least one open state and a closed state wherein the valve further comprises an implantable sleeve having first and second ends and having an orifice extending through a wall of the sleeve, and a blade positioned inside said sleeve, and formed at least in part from a material that is reactive to magnetic force, the blade configured to slide from a first position relative to the sleeve where the blade does not block the orifice and the valve is in the at least one open state, to a second position relative to the sleeve where the blade blocks the orifice and the valve is in at least one closed state, such that a position of the blade relative to the sleeve determines whether the valve is in the at least one open state or the closed state; a first implantable sensor for actively obtaining at least one measurement of pressure within the body part; and an implantable control device electrically coupled with the valve and the sensor, for receiving the at least one measurement and switching the valve between the at least one open state and the closed state based on the at least one measurement, wherein the tube is configured to drain fluids from the body part when the valve is in the at least one open state, due to a difference of pressure between the first and the second open end of the tube, the difference created by native differences in pressure of the body part to another body part. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for controlling pressure in a body part, comprising:
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an implantable tube, having a first open end and a second open end, the first open end configured to be disposed in a body part; an implantable valve coupled to the second open end of the tube and having at least one open state and a closed state wherein the valve further comprises an implantable sleeve having first and second ends made from a material that is reactive to magnetic force and having an orifice extending through a wall of the sleeve, and a blade positioned inside said sleeve, and formed at least in part from a material that is reactive to magnetic force, the blade configured to slide from a first position relative to the sleeve where the blade does not block the orifice and the valve is in the at least one open state, to a second position relative to the sleeve where the blade blocks the orifice and the valve is in at least one closed state, such that a position of the blade relative to the sleeve determines whether the valve is in the at least one open state or the closed state; a first implantable sensor for actively obtaining at least one measurement of pressure within the body part; and an implantable control device electrically coupled with the valve and the sensor, for receiving the at least one measurement and switching the valve between the at least one open state and the closed state based on the at least one measurement, wherein the tube is configured to drain fluids from the body part when the valve is in the at least one open state, through use of an implantable pump in the device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for controlling pressure in a body part, comprising:
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an implantable tube, having a first open end and a second open end, the first open end configured to be disposed in a body part; an implantable valve coupled to the second open end of the tube and having at least one open state and a closed state; wherein the valve comprises an implantable sleeve having a first and second opening; wherein the valve further comprises a blade, comprised at least in part of a material reactive to magnetic force, and positioned inside said sleeve and configured to move relative to the sleeve, such that a position of the blade determines whether the valve is in the at least one open state or the closed state; a first implantable sensor for actively obtaining at least one measurement of pressure within the body part; and an implantable control device electrically coupled with the valve and the sensor, for receiving the at least one measurement and switching the valve between the at least one open state and the closed state based on the at least one measurement, wherein the tube is configured to drain fluids from the body part when the valve is in the at least one open state, through use of an implantable pump in the device. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A system for controlling pressure in a body part, comprising:
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an implantable tube, having a first open end and a second open end, the first open end configured to be disposed in a body part; an implantable valve coupled to the second open end of the tube and having at least one open state and a closed state; wherein the valve comprises an implantable sleeve having a first and second opening; wherein the valve further comprises a blade, comprised at least in part of a material reactive to magnetic force, and positioned inside said sleeve and configured to move relative to the sleeve, such that a position of the blade determines whether the valve is in the at least one open state or the closed state; a first implantable sensor for actively obtaining at least one measurement of pressure within the body part; and an implantable control device electrically coupled with the valve and the sensor, for receiving the at least one measurement and switching the valve between the at least one open state and the closed state based on the at least one measurement, wherein the tube is configured to drain fluids from the body part when the valve is in the at least one open state, due to a difference of pressure between the first and the second open end of the tube, the difference created by native differences in pressure of the body part to another body part. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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Specification