The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 01, 1988
Filed:
Dec. 08, 1986
Yasuo Watanabe, Komae, JP;
Kabushiki Kaisha Nihon M.D.M., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A brain ventricle shunt system provided with a flow-rate switching mechanism is used as a brain ventricle-peritoneum shunt or a brain ventricle-auricle shunt. It is surgically implanted in the body of a hydrocephalic patient or the like. It is constructed of a check valve for preventing the cerebro-spinal fluid from flowing back to the brain ventricle and a flow-rate switching mechanism for switching the flow rate of cerebro-spinal fluid to be fed from the brain ventricle catheter to the peritoneum or auricle catheter. The switching mechanism is provided with flow passages connected to one another in parallel, flow-rate regulators interposed respectively in the flow passages to control the flow rates through the respective flow passages to predetermined flow rates, and on-off valves interposed respectively in the flow passages so as to shut off the flow passages individually upon the application of external drive forces thereto. The system has merit in that the switching operation of the flow rate, which has been considered difficult, can be achieved very easily and safely. It permits switching of the flow rate among many levels without failure. The flow-rate controlling position can be precisely determined either visually or palpably through the scalp.