# US 2022/0032018 A1 · System And Method For Valve Control

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- Number: US 2022/0032018 A1
- Document ID: US20220032018A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/944,466
- Filed: 2020-07-31
- Published: 2022-02-03
- Earliest claimed: 2020-07-31
- Assignees: Medtronic PS Medical, Inc.
- Applicants: Medtronic PS Medical, Inc.
- Inventors: Jemmy SUTANTO; David A. RUBEN; James WASSON; Shilpika CHOWDHURY; Mark E. HENSCHEL
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220032018A1

## CPC

- A61M 27/006: {Cerebrospinal drainage; Accessories therefor, e.g. valves}
- A61M 39/22: Valves or arrangement of valves {(A61M39/02, A61M39/0247, A61M39/16 take precedence; regulating valves in infusion systems A61M5/16881; in devices worn by the patient for the reception of urine, faeces, catamenial or other discharge, or in colostomy devices A61F5/4405)}
- F16K 99/0023: {with ball-shaped valve members}
- F16K 99/0042: {Electric operating means therefor}
- A61M 2039/226: {Spindles or actuating means}
- A61M 2205/0244: Micromachined materials, e.g. made from silicon wafers, microelectromechanical systems [MEMS] or comprising nanotechnology
- A61M 2205/3331: Pressure; Flow
- F16K 2099/0088: {Implanted devices}
- 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)}
- F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)}

## Abstract

Disclosed is a system including a flow control assembly. The system may include a flow regulating shunt system, for various purposes. The flow control assembly may be controlled according to selected parameters and methods.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of operating a flow and/or pressure regulating assembly for a hydrocephalus shunt system, the method comprising:
biasing a valve member in a closed position relative to a valve seat with an arm support member;
sensing a parameter relative to the valve member; and
operating an actuator formed from and on a substrate near the arm support member to be positioned in an active position or an inactive position relative to the arm support member to effect a biasing force applied to the valve member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
selecting an effective support length of the arm support member to determine the biasing force on the valve member.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising:
executing instructions with a controller to compare a sensed pressure applied to an inlet side of the valve member to determine the position of the actuator.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein operating the actuator in the active position includes decreasing a support length of the arm support member to increase the biasing force.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein operating the actuator in the inactive position includes increasing or maximizing a support length of the arm support member to decrease the biasing force.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
selecting a set point for the parameter;
comparing the set point of the parameter to the sensed parameter; and
selecting a position of the actuator based on the comparison.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the parameter is an inlet pressure.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further comprising:
receiving the selected set point; and
storing the set point.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further comprising:
executing instructions with a controller to perform the comparison;
transmitting an actuation signal to operate the actuator in the active position to decrease a support length of the arm support member to increase the biasing force when the sensed parameter is less than the set point.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further comprising:
executing instructions with a controller to perform the comparison;
transmitting an actuation signal to operate the actuator in the inactive position to increase a support length of the arm support member to decrease the biasing force when the sensed parameter is greater than the set point.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving a set point value for the parameter.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising:
operating a controller to execute instructions to compare the sensed parameter and the received set point value.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein operating the actuator includes at least one of (i) changing the actuator from the active position to the inactive position, (ii) changing the actuator from the inactive position to the active position, or (iii) maintaining the actuator in a current active position or a current inactive position.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein operating the actuator includes forming a biasing force on the valve member based on the comparison.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein operating the actuator includes operating a plurality of actuators.

### Claim 16

A method of operating a flow and/or pressure regulating assembly for a hydrocephalus shunt system, the method comprising:
providing a reservoir having a reservoir inlet and a reservoir outlet;
providing a valve member supported relative to a valve seat to regulate flow into the reservoir through the reservoir inlet; and
configuring an actuator in response to an actuator signal from a controller to move the actuator between an activate position and an inactivate position;
wherein the actuator is selectively positioned in the active position or the inactive position to select a biasing force on the valve member for regulating the flow into the reservoir.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, further comprising:
providing an antenna to wirelessly receive a set point parameter value;
providing a controller to compare the set point value parameter to a measure value parameter at the valve member.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, further comprising:
transmitting a signal based on the comparison to configure the actuator.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the transmitted signal is to increase the biasing force when the measured value is less than the set point parameter value.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein configuring the actuator includes moving the actuator to the active position.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein configuring the actuator includes moving the actuator to the inactive position.

### Claim 22 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the transmitted signal is to decrease the biasing force when the measured value is greater than the set point parameter value.

### Claim 23

A method of operating a flow and/or pressure regulating assembly for a hydrocephalus shunt system, the method comprising:
implanting the regulating assembly;
selecting a set point value for a parameter;
operating a sensor to cense a parameter value relative to a valve member; and
operating a controller to:
compare the set point of the parameter to the sensed parameter;
select a position of the actuator based on the comparison;
operate the actuator in an active position or an inactive position relative to the valve member to effect a biasing force applied to the valve member.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, further comprising:
transmitting the selected set point to the controller.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, further comprising:
altering a support arm length by the operation of the actuator to effect the basing force.