Patent ID: 6840917
Filing Date: 2005-01-11
Classification: A61M,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A subcutaneous valve for the treatment of hydrocephalus, said valve having an opening pressure that can be adjusted non-invasively from the outside, the valve comprising a valve body presenting an internal chamber having a cylindrical side wall, an inlet duct and an outlet duct for cerebrospinal fluid, both ducts opening out in the side wall of said chamber and being suitable for connection respectively to a ventricular catheter and to a drainage catheter for said fluid, a valve member including a ball, mounted on a seat within said chamber at the opening of said inlet duct, a curved spring blade fitting closely against the side wall of said chamber and urging the ball against said seat, a magnetic moving member movable in rotation about a vertical axis under control from outside the valve, and means for locking said moving member in a determined position, a length of an active portion of the spring blade acting on the valve member being determined by the position of said moving member, said moving member constituted by a resilient flexible arcuate blade fitting closely to the cylindrical inside wall of said chamber over at least a fraction of an inside circumference thereof, while exerting pressure thereon, said arcuate blade being shaped so as to avoid impeding the flow of fluid through said chamber into the outlet duct.