Waveform sensing and regulating fluid flow valve
AssigneesChildren's Medical Center Corporation, New Jersey Institute of Technology
InventorsJoseph Madsen, Dentcho Ivanov
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Microfluidic shunt valves are disclosed having a deflectable element capable of being held in a closed position to occlude the passage of fluid between an inlet and outlet and, when not held in the closed position, the deflectable element is adapted to oscillate in response to fluid pressure pulses and thereby facilitate fluid passage through the valve. Controls for activating the deflectable element to permit fluid passage are also included.
Claims50
A microfluidic shunt valve comprising
- a chip having at least one inlet and at least one outlet for fluid passage therebetween;
- a deflectable element capable of being held in a closed position to occlude the passage of fluid between the inlet and outlet and, when not held in a closed position, further adapted to oscillate in response to fluid pressure pulses and thereby facilitate fluid passage through the valve;
- and
- controls for activating the deflectable element to permit fluid passage.
A microfluidic valve assembly with a plurality of valves, each valve comprising
- a channel to guide flow of a fluid;
- and
- an deflectable valve element disposed within the channel, and capable, when activated, of oscillating in response to fluid pulses to permit fluid passage, and
- the assembly further comprising electrical controls for activating a subset of the plurality of valves.
A microfluidic shunt valve comprising
- a micro-machined structure defining a channel to guide flow of a fluid therethrough in a primary direction;
- an deflectable valve element disposed within the channel, and capable of oscillating in response to fluid pulses to permit fluid passage, and wherein the deflectable valve element is electrically isolated from at least a portion of the structure to permit impedance measurements of an oscillatory frequency of the deflectable valve element.
A shunt valve comprising:
- a valve body with a distal end and a proximal end;
- a valve assembly disposed upon a semiconductor chip and having a plurality of deflectable valve elements, wherein each valve element is capable of oscillating in response to fluid pulses, wherein each valve element is electrically isolated from at least a portion of the chip to permit impedance measurements of an oscillatory frequency of the valve element.
A method of treating hydrocephalus in a subject comprising:
- implanting a shunt with a distal end and a proximal end in the subject, wherein the proximal end is implanted in a brain ventricle and the distal end is implanted in a region other than the brain;
- the shunt comprising a valve assembly having a plurality of channels to guide flow of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF);
- and each channel having a deflectable valve element disposed therein, which is capable, when activated, of oscillating in response to fluid pulses to permit fluid passage;
- activating at least one of the valve elements;
- monitoring the operation of the activated valve element;
- and
- activating at least one additional valve element based on the monitored valve operation.
A method of fabricating a MEMS valve assembly, the method comprising
- providing a SIMOX wafer having a first silicon layer, a second silicon layer and a buried oxide disposed therebetween;
- forming an plurality of channels in the first silicon layer;
- forming a plurality of gate structures in the second silicon layer, each gate structure being aligned with a channel of the first layer;
- removing a portion of the oxide layer between the gate structures of the first layer and the second layer to permit deflection of the gate structures;
- and
- providing electrical leads to each gate structure, such that a voltage applied between a gate structure and the first layer can induce deflection.
A method of controlling pulsatile fluid flow comprising;
- disposing at least one microfluidic valve in a pulsatile fluid flow path, the valve having a deflectable valve element disposed therein, which is capable of oscillating in response to fluid pulses to permit fluid passage;
- measuring an electric impedance associated with the oscillating valve element;
- and applying an alternating current in response to the measured impedance.
A tandem CSF shunt valve assembly comprising:
- at least one pressure sensitive valve adapted to open when a pressure difference between a proximal region and a distal region exceeds a threshold valve;
- and
- at least one microfluidic valve having a deflectable valve element disposed therein that is capable of oscillating in response to fluid pulses to permit fluid passage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.