Subcutaneous valve and device for externally setting it

A subcutaneous valve structure for the external regulation of fluid flow,

• a) said subcutaneous valve structure, including a body with a periphery and comprising a substantially cylindrical and flat internal chamber having a central axis and a lateral wall;
• b) an inlet pipe with an inner end and a drain pipe formed in the lateral wall of said chamber and adapted to be connected respectively to a catheter for supplying a fluid and to a catheter for draining a fluid from said chamber;
• c) a non-return valve formed at the inner end of the inlet pipe and comprising a moveable valve element and a valve seat, said moveable valve element closing said valve when the valve element is engaged in the valve seat;
• d) a rotor mounted in said chamber to rotate about said central axis;
• e) a curved leaf spring fixed to said rotor generally parallel to the lateral wall of the chamber and urging the valve element into the valve seat;
• f) locking means for locking the rotor in predetermined selected positions;
• g) two micromagnets of predetermined polarities mounted in spaced relation in the rotor on opposite sides of said central axis;
• h) the micromagnets being mounted to move linearly in said rotor in a substantially radial direction to actuate said locking means;
• i) whereby said locking means cannot be altered by strong external unidirectional magnetic fields and whereby said locking means can be locked only by an applied bidirectional magnetic field of predetermined strength.