Patent ID: 7691077

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, said microneedles being of a size to extend through dura mater with a proximal end communicating with the interior of the brain on one side of the dura mater and a distal end adapted communicating with the venous system in an area on a second side of the dura mater opposed to said one side, said passages communicating said one side of the dura mater with the venous system on the second side of said dura mater; and (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 to prevent an excessive pressure build up of CSF within the interior of the brain.