Pressure-Driven Membrane Valve for Pressure Control System
AssigneeAlcon Research, Ltd.
InventorLeslie A. Field
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A control valve for a fluidic system is disclosed. The control valve comprises a housing and a flow control membrane is disclosed. The flow control membrane is anchored within the housing to form a reference chamber on a first side of the membrane and a fluid flow channel on a second opposing side of the membrane. The fluid flow channel selectively opens and closes to permit fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet, and the membrane is configured to control flow through the channel from the inlet to the outlet by deflecting in response to pressure differentials of the reference chamber pressure and the fluid flow channel pressure acting across the membrane.
Claims27
A control valve for a fluidic system, comprising:
- a housing including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
- and
- a flow control membrane anchored within the housing to form a reference chamber on a first side of the flow control membrane and a fluid flow channel on a second opposing side of the membrane, the reference chamber having a reference chamber pressure, the fluid flow channel selectively opening and closing to permit fluid to flow from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet, the flow control membrane configured to control flow through the fluid flow channel from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet by deflecting in response to pressure differentials of the reference chamber pressure and the fluid flow channel pressure acting on the opposing sides of the flow control membrane.
An IOP control system for implantation in an eye of a patient, comprising:
- a drainage tube configured to convey aqueous humor from an anterior chamber of the eye;
- and
- a pressure-driven membrane valve in fluid communication with the drainage tube, the pressure-driven membrane valve actuatable in response to pressure differentials and configured to control flow rates of the aqueous humor along the drainage tube by deflecting in response to pressure differentials between the anterior chamber of the eye and an atmospheric pressure acting on the pressure-driven membrane valve.
A pressure-driven IOP control valve for implantation in an eye of a patient, comprising:
- a housing including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
- and
- a flow control membrane anchored within the housing to form a reference chamber on a first side of the flow control membrane and a fluid flow channel on a second side of the membrane, the fluid flow channel fluidly connecting the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet, the flow control membrane including at least one corrugation and configured to control flow through the fluid flow channel from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet by deflecting in response to pressure differentials acting on the sides of the flow control membrane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.