Systems and methods for shunting fluid
First Claim
1. A flusher comprising:
- a body that defines a collapsible flush dome;
a flow path that extends between an upstream port and a downstream port, at least a portion of the flow path being defined by a pinch tube that extends across an exterior surface of the flush dome; and
a valve having a first position in which the flush dome is not in fluid communication with the upstream port or the flow path and a second position in which the flush dome is in fluid communication with the upstream port and the flow path;
wherein application of a force to the pinch tube is effective to collapse the pinch tube to block the flow path and to collapse the dome to move the valve to the second position and flush fluid through the upstream port.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided herein that generally involve shunting fluid, e.g., shunting cerebrospinal fluid in the treatment of hydrocephalus. Self-cleaning catheters are provided which include split tips configured such that pulsatile flow of fluid in a cavity in which the catheter is inserted can cause the tips to strike one another and thereby clear obstructions. Catheters with built-in flow indicators are also provided. Exemplary flow indicators include projections that extend radially inward from the interior surface of the catheter and which include imageable portions (e.g., portions which are visible under magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)). Movement of the flow indicators caused by fluid flowing through the catheter can be detected using MRI, thereby providing a reliable indication as to whether the catheter is partially or completely blocked. Systems and methods for flushing a shunt system are also disclosed herein, as are various systems and methods for opening auxiliary fluid pathways through a shunt system.
50 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A flusher comprising:
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a body that defines a collapsible flush dome; a flow path that extends between an upstream port and a downstream port, at least a portion of the flow path being defined by a pinch tube that extends across an exterior surface of the flush dome; and a valve having a first position in which the flush dome is not in fluid communication with the upstream port or the flow path and a second position in which the flush dome is in fluid communication with the upstream port and the flow path; wherein application of a force to the pinch tube is effective to collapse the pinch tube to block the flow path and to collapse the dome to move the valve to the second position and flush fluid through the upstream port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A flusher comprising:
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a body that defines a collapsible flush dome; a flow path that extends between an upstream port and a downstream port; and a valve comprising a valve body compressed against a valve seat by a threaded adjustment disc, the valve having a closed position in which the flush dome is not in fluid communication with the upstream port via the valve and an open position in which the flush dome is in fluid communication with the upstream port via the valve; wherein a threshold pressure required to transition the valve from the closed position to the open position is adjustable by rotating the threaded adjustment disc with respect to the body.
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Specification