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

• US 6,702,249 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2002
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Ito, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Mar, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): KEASEL, ERIC S
• Application Number:
  US10/287,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20030057392A1
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 251/65, 251/230, 604/9, 604/891.1, 137/530, 137/531
• US Class Current: 251/65
• 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 main body;

a rotating member rotatably mounted within the main body to be rotatable about a central axis to vary a set pressure of the valve device; and

a rotation control mechanism for controlling rotation of the rotating member and comprising at least one permanent magnet structure supported by the main body to undergo linear reciprocal movement and a displacement transmission mechanism for converting the linear movement of the at least one permanent magnet structure into angular movement of the rotating member in a direction corresponding to the direction of linear movement of the permanent magnet structure.

2. A pressure-variable valve device according to claim 1;

further comprising set-pressure signal generating means for generating a set-pressure signal indicating a set pressure of the valve device and having a movable magnet which is mounted to undergo rotation around the rotation axis in accordance with an angular position of the rotating member.

3. A pressure-variable valve device according to claim 1;

wherein the set pressure of the valve device is varied in accordance with the angular position of the rotating member.

4. A pressure-variable valve device according to claim 1;

wherein the size of a fluid conduit releasably closed by the valve device is varied in accordance with a variation in angular position of the rotating member.

5. A pressure-variable valve device according to claim 1;

wherein the main body is formed of a material which cannot be seen in an MRI image.

6. A pressure-variable valve device according to claim 1;

wherein the main body is configured to be embedded in a human body to adjust a pressure of cerebrospinal fluid.

7. A pressure-variable valve device according to claim 1;

wherein the main body defines a fluid conduit and has a fluid inlet port and a fluid discharge port, and the size of the fluid conduit releasably closed by the valve device is varied in accordance with a variation in angular position of the rotating member.

8. A pressure-variable valve device according to claim 1;

further comprising a valve element disposed in the main body for releasably closing the fluid conduit.

9. A pressure-variable valve device according to claim 8;

wherein the valve element has a ball-and-seat construction comprising a ball, a valve seat covered by the ball, a spring member having one end biasing the ball against the valve seat and a second end opposite the first end in contact with a spiral cam face of the rotating member.

10. A set-pressure adjusting device comprising:

a housing; and

magnetic field generating means disposed in the housing for applying a magnetic field to the at least one permanent magnet structure of the pressure-variable valve device according to claim 1 so as to cause the permanent magnet structure to undergo linear movement to angularly displace the rotating member to thereby adjust the set-pressure of the valve device.

11. A set-pressure adjusting device according to claim 10;

wherein the magnetic field generating means comprises an electromagnet.

12. A pressure-variable valve device according to claim 1;

wherein the at least one permanent magnet structure comprises a pair of permanent magnet structures proximate the rotating member, and the displacement transmission mechanism is configured such that when substantially the same external magnetic field is applied to both of the permanent magnet structures, mutually balancing, reverse magnitude torques are applied to the rotating member so that the external magnetic field does not cause angular movement of the rotating member.

13. A pressure-variable valve device according to claim 12;

wherein the pair of permanent magnet structures are substantially opposed to each other in a diametral direction with respect to the central axis of the rotating member to undergo linear movement substantially in parallel along an axis crossing the diametral direction, and the permanent magnet structures have magnetic poles of the same polarity at ends thereof on the same side with respect to the direction of linear movement, and the displacement transmission mechanism comprises a projection provided on the respective permanent magnet structures that comes in contact with an adjacent portion of the rotating member to angularly displace the rotating member in one or the other direction upon linear movement of the respective permanent magnet structures in one or the other direction.

14. A pressure-variable valve device according to claim 12;

further comprising set-pressure signal generating means for generating a set-pressure signal indicating a set pressure of the valve device and having a movable magnet which is displaced in a direction parallel to the central axis of the rotating member in accordance with an angular position of the rotating member.

15. A set-pressure adjusting device comprising:

a housing; and

magnetic field generating means disposed in the housing for applying a magnetic field to each of the pair of magnet structures of the pressure-variable valve device according to claim 2 to apply torques in the same direction to the rotating member to thereby adjust the set-pressure of the valve device.

16. A set-pressure adjusting device according to claim 15;

wherein the magnetic field generating means comprises an electromagnet.

17. A pressure-variable valve device according to claim 12;

wherein the pair of permanent magnet structures are mounted in the main body substantially opposed to each other in a diametral direction with respect to the central axis of the rotating member to undergo linear movement substantially in parallel along an axis crossing the diametral direction, and the permanent magnet structures have magnetic poles of the same polarity at ends thereof on the same side with respect to the direction of linear movement, and the displacement transmission mechanism comprises a projection provided on the respective permanent magnet structures that comes in contact with an adjacent portion of the rotating member to angularly displace the rotating member in a direction corresponding to the direction of linear movement of the respective permanent magnet structures.

18. A pressure-variable valve device according to claim 17;

wherein each permanent magnet structure has an elongated slot engaged with guide pins provided in the main body to allow linear reciprocal movement of the permanent magnet structure along a given line.

19. A pressure-variable valve device according to claim 17;

wherein the displacement transmission mechanism includes a ratchet coaxial with the rotating member to undergo rotational movement therewith and having a plurality of claws extending radially therefrom, and the projection comprises an engagement pawl provided on each permanent magnet structure for engaging a claw of the ratchet adjacent thereto when each permanent magnet structure undergoes linear movement.

20. A pressure-variable valve device according to claim 19;

wherein the rotation control mechanism further comprises a restraining spring mounted in the main body and having one end engaged with the main body to cooperate with the engagement pawl of the permanent magnet structures to cause the rotating member to undergo intermittent rotation and an opposite end elastically biased against an adjacent claw of the ratchet to apply a weak restraining force thereto to restrain the rotating member from undesired angular movement while permitting angular movement of the rotating member by the pair of permanent magnet structures.