Apparatus for measuring pressure within a shunt
OwnerVias Demetriouinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for measuring pressure of fluid in a shunt includes a distensible member arranged adjacent to a graduated scale. The shunt includes a shunt valve and the apparatus is attachable to, or incorporated into the shunt at a location either at the shunt valve or upstream of the shunt valve. Both the distensible member and the scale include radiopaque markers. The fluid in the shunt acts directly on the distensible member and the distensible member is distensible in the direction of the scale.
Claims11
An apparatus for measuring pressure of cerebrospinal fluid in a ventricular shunt implanted in a patient, the apparatus comprising:
- a distensible member and a graduated scale, both the distensible member and the graduated scale comprising radiopaque markers, wherein the distensible member is arranged adjacent to the graduated scale such that a length of the distensible member relative to the graduated scale can be assessed from an X-ray image of the apparatus,
- wherein the distensible member and the graduated scale are configured and arranged so that cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricular shunt at least partially fills an interior chamber defined by the distensible member so as to cause the distensible member to distend in the direction of the graduated scale, and
- wherein the apparatus is attachable to, or incorporated into, the ventricular shunt at a location either at or upstream of a shunt valve forming part of the ventricular shunt.
An implantable ventricular shunt comprising a ventricular catheter, a shunt valve connected to the ventricular catheter, a further catheter connected to the shunt valve, and apparatus for measuring pressure in the ventricular catheter, the apparatus for measuring pressure in the ventricular shunt comprising:
- a distensible member and a graduated scale, both the distensible member and the graduated scale comprising radiopaque markers, wherein the distensible member is arranged adjacent to the graduated scale such that a length of the distensible member relative to the graduated scale can be assessed from an X-ray image of the apparatus,
- wherein the distensible member and the graduated scale are configured and arranged so that cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricular shunt is in direct contact with, and acts directly on, a distensible material that makes up the distensible member and at least partially fills an interior chamber defined by the distensible member and the distensible member is distensible in the direction of the graduated scale, and
- wherein the apparatus for measuring pressure in the ventricular shunt is attachable to, or incorporated into, the ventricular shunt at a location either at or upstream of the shunt valve.
An apparatus for measuring pressure of cerebrospinal fluid in a ventricular shunt implanted in a patient, the apparatus comprising:
- a distensible member and a graduated scale, both the distensible member and the graduated scale comprising radiopaque markers, wherein the distensible member is arranged adjacent to the graduated scale such that a length of the distensible member relative to the graduated scale can be assessed from an X-ray image of the apparatus,
- wherein the distensible member and the graduated scale are configured and arranged so that cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricular shunt is in direct contact with, and acts directly on, a distensible material that makes up the distensible member and at least partially fills an interior chamber defined by the distensible member and the distensible member is distensible in the direction of the graduated scale, and
- wherein the apparatus is attachable to, or incorporated into, the ventricular shunt at a location either at or upstream of a shunt valve forming part of the ventricular shunt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.