METHOD AND TOOLS FOR IMPLANTED DEVICE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A valve unit capable of being implanted in a patient and having adjustable performance settings to regulate passage of a bodily fluid, comprising:
- a casing defining a port for the bodily fluid;
a valve mechanism positioned at the port and including a movable valve member;
a rotor disposed at a first location in the casing and having an axle which rotates about an axis of rotation, the rotor is also movable along the axis of rotation from a constrained condition, in which the rotor is constrained to rotate in an arc of predetermined angular distance, to an unconstrained condition; and
a spring arm unit disposed at a second location in the casing having a cam follower arm in slidable contact with the rotor and having a resilient spring element applying a closing effect with the movable valve member at the port to establish a performance setting for the valve unit;
wherein sufficient rotation of the rotor alters the closing effect with which the valve member moves relative to the port, and thereby alters the performance setting of the valve unit;
the casing defines a plurality of lock stops and the rotor defines at least one tooth which is engagable with at least one lock stop when the rotor is in the constrained condition and which does not engage the lock stops when the rotor is in the unconstrained condition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and toolset capable of remotely moving a rotor of an implanted device in a first arcuate direction and detecting a first limit of travel, moving the rotor in a second, opposite direction and detecting a second limit of travel without altering the current performance setting of the implanted device, comparing the first and second limits of travel with known values for a plurality of selectable performance settings, and indicating the current performance setting of the implanted device.
6 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A valve unit capable of being implanted in a patient and having adjustable performance settings to regulate passage of a bodily fluid, comprising:
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a casing defining a port for the bodily fluid; a valve mechanism positioned at the port and including a movable valve member; a rotor disposed at a first location in the casing and having an axle which rotates about an axis of rotation, the rotor is also movable along the axis of rotation from a constrained condition, in which the rotor is constrained to rotate in an arc of predetermined angular distance, to an unconstrained condition; and a spring arm unit disposed at a second location in the casing having a cam follower arm in slidable contact with the rotor and having a resilient spring element applying a closing effect with the movable valve member at the port to establish a performance setting for the valve unit; wherein sufficient rotation of the rotor alters the closing effect with which the valve member moves relative to the port, and thereby alters the performance setting of the valve unit;
the casing defines a plurality of lock stops and the rotor defines at least one tooth which is engagable with at least one lock stop when the rotor is in the constrained condition and which does not engage the lock stops when the rotor is in the unconstrained condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification