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:
Apr. 25, 2017
Filed:
Jan. 22, 2014
Alcyone Lifesciences, Inc., Concord, MA (US);
P J Anand, Ayer, MA (US);
Deep Arjun Singh, Allston, MA (US);
Morgan Brophy, Somerville, MA (US);
Timothy Fallon, Dover, MA (US);
Robert Degon, Bellingham, MA (US);
Matthew Attar, Seekonk, MA (US);
Anthony Wong, Franklin, MA (US);
Allison Waller, Blackstone, MA (US);
Andrew East, Arlington, MA (US);
Jon T. McIntyre, Newton, MA (US);
Alcoyne Lifesciences, Inc., Lowell, MA (US);
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided herein that generally involve shunting fluid, e.g., shunting cerebrospinal fluid in the treatment of hydrocephalus. Self-cleaning catheters are provided which include split tips configured such that pulsatile flow of fluid in a cavity in which the catheter is inserted can cause the tips to strike one another and thereby clear obstructions. Catheters with built-in flow indicators are also provided. Exemplary flow indicators include projections that extend radially inward from the interior surface of the catheter and which include imageable portions (e.g., portions which are visible under magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)). Movement of the flow indicators caused by fluid flowing through the catheter can be detected using MRI, thereby providing a reliable indication as to whether the catheter is partially or completely blocked. Systems and methods for flushing a shunt system are also disclosed herein, as are various systems and methods for opening auxiliary fluid pathways through a shunt system.