Unobstructing microdevices for self-clearing implantable catheters
First Claim
1. An apparatus for self-clearing a flow pore in a human implant, comprising:
- a housing configured to be disposed in a flow pore of the implant;
said housing comprising a central bore spanning between an upper surface and a lower surface of the housing, the central bore providing fluid communication into said flow pore; and
an actuator plate extending from the upper surface of the housing into the central bore via a cantilever beam;
the cantilever beam having a first end emanating at the central bore and a second end terminating at the actuator plate;
the actuator plate configured to reciprocate within the central bore between a first position extending downward at an angle into the central bore and a second position substantially at or above the upper surface of the housing;
wherein the cantilever beam is stressed such that it is preloaded to nominally curve downward to extend the actuator plate in the first position;
wherein the actuator plate comprises a magnet responsive to magnetic field such that the magnetic field drives the actuator plate toward the second position;
wherein in the cantilever beam comprises a composite material having a first low-stress layer and a second compressed layer; and
wherein the second compressed layer preloads the cantilever beam to nominally curve in the first position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A self-clearing actuator configured to be positioned in a pore providing fluid communication into a central lumen of a ventricular catheter body is described. The actuator extends into a central bore via a cantilever beam having a first end emanating at the central bore and a second end terminating at the actuator, wherein the actuator is configured to reciprocate within the central bore between a first position extending downward at an angle into the central bore and a second position substantially at or above the external surface of the catheter. The cantilever beam is stressed, e.g. via a composite compress layer, such that it is preloaded to nominally curve downward to extend the actuator into the second position. The actuator is preferably a magnet responsive to magnetic field such that the magnetic field drives the actuator toward the first position.
-
Citations
9 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for self-clearing a flow pore in a human implant, comprising:
-
a housing configured to be disposed in a flow pore of the implant; said housing comprising a central bore spanning between an upper surface and a lower surface of the housing, the central bore providing fluid communication into said flow pore; and an actuator plate extending from the upper surface of the housing into the central bore via a cantilever beam; the cantilever beam having a first end emanating at the central bore and a second end terminating at the actuator plate; the actuator plate configured to reciprocate within the central bore between a first position extending downward at an angle into the central bore and a second position substantially at or above the upper surface of the housing; wherein the cantilever beam is stressed such that it is preloaded to nominally curve downward to extend the actuator plate in the first position; wherein the actuator plate comprises a magnet responsive to magnetic field such that the magnetic field drives the actuator plate toward the second position; wherein in the cantilever beam comprises a composite material having a first low-stress layer and a second compressed layer; and wherein the second compressed layer preloads the cantilever beam to nominally curve in the first position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
Specification