Programmable shunt with electromechanical valve actuator
First Claim
1. An apparatus for shunting cerebrospinal fluid from a patient'"'"'s ventricular cavity, comprising:
- an implantable shunt system having;
a valve for regulating the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, the valve having an adjustable pressure threshold at which fluid begins to flow through the valve;
a sensor for measuring a physiological characteristic of the patient'"'"'s ventricular cavity; and
an electromechanical valve actuator operatively associated with the valve to adjust the pressure threshold at which fluid begins to flow through the valve and to lock the valve in place so as to maintain a set pressure threshold; and
an implantable system controller in electrical communication with the implantable shunt system, wherein the controller receives the physiological characteristic of the patient'"'"'s ventricular cavity and is programmed to operate the electromechanical valve actuator based on the physiological characteristic received and adjusts the pressure threshold at which fluid begins to flow through the valve.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods for regulating and directing bodily fluids from one region of a patient to another region are disclosed. In general, an apparatus is provided that can include an implantable shunt system and a system controller. The implantable shunt system can have an adjustable valve for regulating the flow of fluid, a sensor element for measuring a physiological characteristic of a patient, and an electromechanical valve actuator that can be adapted to adjust a resistance of the valve. The implantable shunt system can be in electrical communication with the system controller. The system controller can generally be adapted to receive a physiological characteristic of the patient and operate the electromechanical valve actuator to adjust a resistance of the valve. The apparatus can also include an external programming device that is in communication with the system controller.
34 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for shunting cerebrospinal fluid from a patient'"'"'s ventricular cavity, comprising:
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an implantable shunt system having; a valve for regulating the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, the valve having an adjustable pressure threshold at which fluid begins to flow through the valve; a sensor for measuring a physiological characteristic of the patient'"'"'s ventricular cavity; and an electromechanical valve actuator operatively associated with the valve to adjust the pressure threshold at which fluid begins to flow through the valve and to lock the valve in place so as to maintain a set pressure threshold; and an implantable system controller in electrical communication with the implantable shunt system, wherein the controller receives the physiological characteristic of the patient'"'"'s ventricular cavity and is programmed to operate the electromechanical valve actuator based on the physiological characteristic received and adjusts the pressure threshold at which fluid begins to flow through the valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification