Patent ID: 8206334

Claim:
An implantable system for the treatment of hydrocephalus, said system including: (a) a plurality of hollow microneedles in a fixed array relative to each other, said microneedles having passages there through and being of a size to extend through dura mater with a proximal end on one side of the dura mater and a distal end communicating with the venous system in an area on a second side of the dura mater opposed to said one side; (b) an array of microvalves associated with a proximal end of said microneedles, said microvalves including segments movable by a pressure build up of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the interior of the brain to provide open communication between the interior of the brain on said one side of the dura mater and the venous system on the second side of the dura mater through the passages in the microneedles for permitting the flow of CSF through the dura mater from the proximal end to the distal end of each microneedle; (c) a plurality of fluid transmitting members having distal ends communicating with the microvalves in said array of microvalves and proximal ends communicating with the ventricular space of the brain, said fluid transmitting members being micro-conduits or micro-fibers configures to transmit from the ventricular space through the microvalves and micro needles in fluid communication with said fluid transmitting members to prevent an excessive pressure build up of CSF within the interior of the brain.