Patent ID: 8123714

Claim:
An apparatus for regulating fluid flow, comprising: an implantable shunt system having: an adjustable valve for regulating the flow of fluid, a sensor element for measuring a physiological characteristic of a patient, and an electromechanical valve actuator adapted to adjust a resistance of the valve; and a system controller in electrical communication with the implantable shunt system and adapted to receive the physiological characteristic of the patient and operate the electromechanical valve actuator to adjust a resistance of the valve and thereby adjust a pressure threshold at which fluid begins to flow through the valve; further comprising an external programming device in communication with the system controller; wherein the external programming device includes a display for communicating the physiological characteristics of the patient to a user; and wherein the external programming device includes a user input element, the external programming device being configured to communicate one or more instructions to the system controller based on user input.