Integra Lifesciences Switzerland Sarl

Integra Lifesciences Switzerland Sáarl

Alexander Arazawa

Thomas Boden, Jr

Patricia D'Aoust

William Jacob Ward

Adam Elias

Jr Thomas Boden

A method for using an implantable programmable bodily fluid drainage valve including a fixed reference magnet and an adjustable valve unit having a pair of primary magnetic elements. In accordance with the present inventive method the implantable programmable bodily fluid drainage valve is operable using either an intended toolset including a sensor array for detecting a magnetic field or a non-intended toolset employing an analog type compass assembly instead of the sensor array, wherein a location of the fixed reference magnet in the implantable programmable bodily fluid drainage valve and size of the fixed reference magnet has substantially no negative influence on operation of the analog type compass assembly of the non-intended toolset when used to operate the implantable programmable bodily fluid drainage valve.

Programmable drainage valve with fixed reference magnet for determining direction of flow operable with analog or digital compass toolsets

A method for using a universal electronic toolset for indicating and adjusting of an implantable programmable bodily fluid drainage valve regardless of whether the valve includes a fixed reference magnet used to determine an angle of orientation of the implantable programmable bodily fluid drainage valve or not. A magnetic field detection sensor array in an indicator tool of the electronic toolset determines whether the fixed reference magnet is present in the implantable programmable bodily fluid drainage valve. If the presence of the fixed reference magnet is detected then the center and direction of flow of the adjustable valve unit is ascertained via electronic feedback from the electronic toolset; otherwise, the center and direction flow is ascertained via exclusively by manual physical palpation of the valve.

Electronic toolset for use with multiple generations of implantable programmable valves with or without orientation functionality based on a fixed reference magnet

A method of using an electronic toolset for locating, reading, adjusting and confirming adjustment of an implantable bodily fluid drainage system without requiring recalibration following adjustment from a current valve setting to a new valve setting using an electronic toolset including an adjustment tool having a magnetic element and an indicator tool including a sensor array. The need to remove the electronic toolset from the patient to recalibrate or zero the sensor array prior to confirming the new valve setting is eliminated. This is realized by disposing a ferromagnetic system component of the indicator tool in a magnet shield cage made of a metallic alloy to prevent magnetic fields produced by a magnetic element in the adjustment tool during the adjusting step from influencing the sensor array.

Electronic toolset to locate, read, adjust, and confirm adjustment in an implantable bodily fluid drainage system without recalibrating following adjustment

Verifying whether a magnetic field resistance mechanism is properly engaged in a drainage valve having an adjustable valve unit including a rotating construct and a pair of primary magnetic elements for programming the valve unit. Using a toolset, a determination is made whether the magnetic field resistance mechanism is properly engaged. An alert is generated whether the magnetic field resistance mechanism is at least one of properly engaged or not properly engaged based on: (i) a measured angular position of a detected one of the pair of primary magnetic elements relative to a direction of flow of fluid through the valve; and/or (ii) a measured distance separation between respective centers of the pair of primary magnetic elements.

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, MA, United States of America

Alexander Arazawa