# US 11,305,099 B1 · Cerebral shunt valve > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,305,099 B1 - Document ID: US11305099B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/672,100 - Filed: 2017-08-08 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-21 - Assignees: PopFlow, LLC - Applicants: Popflow, LLC - Inventors: Scott C. Mitchell; David Frederick Bauer; Alexander Joel Crain; Alexandra Payne Hamlin; Eldred Lee; Hunter Johnstone; Liam Sean Feeney - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305099B1 ## CPC - A61M 27/006: {Cerebrospinal drainage; Accessories therefor, e.g. valves} - A61B 5/0031: {Implanted circuitry} - A61B 5/031: {Intracranial pressure} - A61B 5/076: {Permanent implantation} - A61B 5/6846: {specially adapted to be brought in contact with an internal body part, i.e. invasive} - A61B 5/6868: {Brain} - A61M 39/24: Check- or non-return valves - A61M 2039/226: {Spindles or actuating means} - A61M 2210/0693: Brain, cerebrum - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A bi-stable popper valve and a device for detecting blockage in a flow of a fluid are provided. The valve includes a membrane supporting two conformations: in a first conformation the membrane is convex in relation the upstream fluid, and in a second conformation the membrane can be concave in relation to the upstream fluid, such that in the first conformation the flow of the fluid through the membrane is prevented and in the second conformation the flow of the fluid through the membrane is permitted through a pore defined by the membrane in only the second conformation. The membrane changes from the first conformation to the second responsive to a pressure of the fluid meeting or exceeding an opening pressure value of the membrane. A sensor can detect a shift from the first conformation to the second conformation, indicating a flow, or absence of flow, of the fluid. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A valve comprising: a valve housing defining an upstream portion and a downstream portion; a resilient membrane between the upstream portion and the downstream portion; and a sensor, the sensor comprising: an upstream electrode; and a downstream electrode, wherein the sensor passes an electric current between the upstream electrode and the downstream electrode and through the resilient membrane, and wherein the sensor detects when the valve is open by measuring a resistance between the upstream electrode and the downstream electrode, and wherein the resistance between the upstream electrode and the downstream electrode is at least one megaohm greater when the valve is closed compared to when the valve is open. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve housing is comprised of an ultrasound compatible material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The valve of claim 2, wherein the resilient membrane is configured to be viewable through the valve housing using ultrasound. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the resilient membrane has an electrical resistance that is orders of magnitude greater than the electrical resistance of cerebrospinal fluid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the upstream portion comprises an upstream chamber, and wherein the downstream portion comprises a downstream chamber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The valve of claim 5, wherein when a fluid is in the valve and the valve is in a closed conformation, the fluid in the upstream chamber is in contact with the upstream electrode, and the fluid in the downstream chamber is in contact with the downstream electrode. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The valve of claim 6, wherein the electrical resistance between the upstream electrode and the downstream electrode is orders of magnitude greater when the valve is in the closed conformation than when the valve is in an open conformation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the electric current is 10 μA or less. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein at least one of the upstream electrode or the downstream electrode is titanium. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein, when the valve is closed, the resistance between the upstream electrode and the downstream electrode is determined by a material of the resilient membrane. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein, when the valve is open, the resistance between the upstream electrode and the downstream electrode is determined by cerebrospinal fluid. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a variable bend resistor configured to sense movement of the resilient membrane between an open conformation and a closed conformation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the resilient membrane comprises a variable polymer composition. ### Claim 14 A sensor for monitoring the actuation of a valve, the sensor comprising: an upstream electrode; and a downstream electrode, wherein the sensor passes an electric current between the upstream electrode and the downstream electrode and through a resilient membrane, and wherein the sensor detects when the valve is open by measuring a resistance between the upstream electrode and the downstream electrode, and wherein the resistance between the upstream electrode and the downstream electrode is at least one megaohm greater when the valve is closed compared to when the valve is open. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The sensor of claim 14, the valve further comprising a resilient membrane between the upstream electrode and the downstream electrode. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The sensor of claim 15, wherein the resilient membrane has an electrical resistance that is orders of magnitude greater than the electrical resistance of cerebrospinal fluid.