Pressure-variable valve device and set-pressure adjusting device for the valve device

• US 20030057392A1
• Filed: 11/04/2002
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Ito, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 6,702,249 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 251/11
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/006 Cerebrospinal drainage; Accessories therefor, e.g. valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/046 by a spring other than a helicoidal spring
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0025 Electrical or magnetic means F16K37/0075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7878 With bias adjustment indicator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7906 Cam means for adjusting and fixing bias

Abstract

A pressure-variable valve device which is adapted to be embedded in the human body and which is capable of changing a difference in pressure between an inlet-side and an outlet-side duct, the valve device including a rotating member capable of rotating around a central axis in directions to vary a set pressure for a valve, and a rotation control mechanism for controlling the rotation of the rotating member,wherein the rotation control mechanism includes permanent magnet structures supported by the valve-device main body so as to be capable of making a linear reciprocal translation in directions, and displacement transmission mechanisms, for rotating the rotating member in the direction corresponding to the direction of the translation of the permanent magnet structures. A set-pressure adjusting device includes a magnetic field generating mechanism which generates a magnetic field in which the permanent magnet structures cause the rotating member to rotate in the same direction.

Claims

1. A pressure-variable valve device comprising:

a rotating member capable of rotating around a central axis inside a valve-device main body to vary a set pressure for a valve, and

a rotation control mechanism to control the rotation of the rotating member,

wherein the rotation control mechanism includes at least one permanent magnet structure supported by the valve-device main body so as to be capable of making a linear reciprocal translation in the valve-device main body, and a displacement transmission mechanism to rotate the rotating member in a direction corresponding to the direction of the translation of the permanent magnet structure.

2. A pressure-variable valve device according to claim 1, wherein the rotation control mechanism includes a pair of permanent magnet structures, and

the displacement transmission mechanism is constructed such that, when an external magnetic field which is substantially the same is applied to the pair of permanent magnet structures, mutually balancing, reverse torques are applied to the rotating member.

3. A pressure-variable valve device according to claim 2, wherein the rotation control mechanism includes a pair of permanent magnet structures which are substantially opposed to each other in a diametral direction with respect to the central axis of the rotating member and which are capable of making a translation movement substantially in parallel in a direction crossing the diametral direction, the structures respectively having magnetic poles of the same polarity at an end on the same side with respect to the direction in which a translation movement is possible, and

a displacement transmission mechanism which causes an adjacent portion of the rotating member to move in a direction corresponding to the direction of the translation movement of one of the pair of permanent magnet structures, and which causes the adjacent portion of the rotating member to move in a direction corresponding to the direction of the translation movement of the other permanent magnet structure.

4. A pressure-variable valve device according to claim 3, wherein the displacement transmission mechanism includes a ratchet formed integrally with the rotating member, and an engagement pawl joined to each permanent magnet structure so as to engage an adjacent portion of a claw of the ratchet when each permanent magnet structure makes a translation movement.

5. A pressure-variable valve device according to claim 4, wherein the rotation control mechanism includes a restraining spring provided with a restraining engagement end portion one end of which is engaged with the valve-device main body to cooperate with the engagement pawl of the permanent magnet structure to cause the rotating member to intermittently rotate and the other end of which is elastically pressed against the claw of the ratchet, and

the restraining spring is constructed so as to restrain the rotation of the rotating member at the end of the restraining engagement end portion with a weak restraining force permitting the rotation of the rotating member due to the pair of permanent magnet structures.

6. A pressure-variable valve device according to one of claim 3, wherein each permanent magnet structure has an elongated hole engaged with a guide pin formed in the valve-device main body so as to allow sliding in one direction.

7. A pressure-variable valve device according to claim 2, wherein the rotation control mechanism includes a pair of permanent magnet structures which are substantially opposed to each other in a diametral direction with respect to the central axis of the rotating member and which are capable of making a translation movement substantially in parallel in a direction crossing the diametral direction, the structures respectively having magnetic poles of the same polarity at an end on the same side with respect to the direction in which a translation movement is possible, and

a displacement transmission mechanism which causes an adjacent portion of the rotating member in one or the other direction upon the translation movement of one of the pair of permanent magnet structures in one or the other direction, and which causes the adjacent portion of the rotating member in one or the other direction upon the translation movement of the other permanent magnet structure in one or the other direction.

8. A pressure-variable valve device according to claim 1, further comprising:

set-pressure signal generating means which is displaced in a direction parallel to the rotation axis in correspondence with the rotating position of the rotating member.

9. A pressure-variable valve device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a set-pressure signal generating means which is rotated around the rotation axis in correspondence with the rotating position of the rotating member.

10. A pressure-variable valve device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure at which the closure of the valve flow passage by the valve is canceled, is varied in accordance with a variation in the rotating position of the rotating member rotating around the central axis.

11. A pressure-variable valve device according to claim 1, wherein the size of the aperture of the valve flow passage throttled by the valve is varied in accordance with a variation in the rotating position of the rotating body rotating around the central axis.

12. A pressure-variable valve device according to claim 1, wherein the valve-device main body is formed of a material which is not actually seen in an MRI image.

13. A set-pressure adjusting device comprising:

magnetic field generating means for applying a magnetic field to the permanent magnet structures of a pressure-variable valve device according to claim 1 so as to cause the permanent magnet structure to make a translation movement to rotate the rotating member.

14. A set-pressure adjusting device comprising:

magnetic field generating means for applying a magnetic field to each of a pair of magnet structures of a pressure-variable valve device as claimed in claim 2 and dependent on claim 2 such that torques in the same direction are applied to the rotating member.

15. A set-pressure adjusting device comprising:

magnetic field generating means for applying a magnetic field to each of a pair of magnet structures of a pressure-variable valve device as claim 8 and dependent on claim 2 such that torques in the same direction are applied to the rotating member.

17. A set-pressure adjusting device according to claim 13, wherein the magnetic field generating means having an electromagnet.

18. A set-pressure adjusting device according to claim 14, wherein the magnetic field generating means having an electromagnet.