Method and apparatus for valve adjustment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10799689-B2
Application number	US-201715686129-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 24, 2017
Priority date	Aug 24, 2017
Publication date	Oct 13, 2020
Grant date	Oct 13, 2020

Abstract

Disclosed is a valve assembly operable to selectively control a flow or passage of a fluid. The valve assembly may be applied to any appropriate mechanism such as a hydrocephalus shunt, fluid draining sewage system, or tank holding system. The valve assembly disclosed may include a selected profile for various applications.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A valve assembly to control a flow of a fluid through a valve mechanism, comprising:
an inlet having an opening to allow the fluid to pass;
the valve mechanism including:
a valve cup having an outer wall extending from a base wall;
a first stop wall extending from a base surface of the base wall and interior to an internal surface of the outer wall;
an axle extending from the base surface;
a rotor having (i) a throughbore configured to pass over the axle and allow the rotor to rotate relative to the base surface and (ii) an outer surface having at least (a) a first region and (b) a second region, wherein the first region has a first radius and the second region has a second radius different from the first radius;
a valve member;
a valve biasing assembly having a first portion and a second portion;
a valve seat formed in a passage through the outer wall;
wherein the valve member is positioned at the valve seat and biased into a closed position with the valve biasing assembly,
wherein the valve biasing assembly is engaged by the exterior surface of the rotor to apply a selected force to the valve member;
wherein the valve biasing assembly includes at least a spring member and a follower;
wherein the valve member, the spring member, and the follower are at least partially received within the passage; and

an outlet to allow the fluid to flow away from the valve mechanism.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a reservoir enclosing a volume between the inlet and the valve mechanism.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the axle is spaced away from the first stop wall.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein
the follower member extends along an axis from a first end to a second end,
wherein the valve member is biased into the closed position with the spring member and the follower member,
wherein the first end of the follower member is engaged by the exterior surface of the rotor to apply a selected force on the spring member with the second end.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the
follower member is a lever follower member;
wherein the valve member is biased into the closed position with the spring member and the layer follower member,
wherein the lever follower member is engaged by the exterior surface of the rotor to apply a selected force on the spring member.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the lever follower member is moveable around a fulcrum when engaged by the exterior surface of the rotor.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base surface is substantially planar.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a magnetic member fixed to the rotor;
wherein the magnetic member is configured to interact with an adjustment tool to raise the rotor and rotate the rotor around the axle.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rotor further includes:
a substantially planar surface;
a projection extending from the substantially planar surface;
wherein the projection selectively engages either a top surface or a side surface of the first stop wall to hold the rotor in a selected axial and rotational position.

10. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a return spring positioned to engage and bias the rotor toward the base surface.

11. A valve assembly to control a flow of a fluid, comprising:
a valve cup having:
a substantially planar base surface;
an external wall extending from the substantially planar base surface;
a first stop wall extending from the substantially planar base surface;
an axle extending from the substantially planar base surface;

a rotor having:
a first substantially planar surface opposed to a second substantially planar surface;
a throughbore extending through both the first substantially planar surface and the second substantially planar surface, wherein the axle is configured to pass through the throughbore;
an outer surface having at least (a) a first cam region and (b) a second cam region, wherein the first cam region has a first radius and the second cam region has a second radius different from the first radius;
a magnetic member;

a valve seat formed in a passage through the external wall of the valve cup;
a valve member configured to engage the valve seat to seal the passage;
a valve biasing assembly having a first portion and a second portion; and
a cap to engage the valve cup and seal an internal portion of the valve cup;
wherein the valve member is positioned at the valve seat and biased into a closed position with the valve biasing assembly,
wherein the valve biasing assembly is engaged by the outer surface of the rotor to apply a selected force to the valve member,
wherein the valve biasing assembly includes at least a spring member and a follower,
wherein the valve member, the spring member, and the follower are at least partially received within the passage.

12. The valve assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first radius is different from the second radius by about 0.1 mm to about 0.2 mm.

13. The valve assembly of claim 11 , wherein the follower extends from the passage along an axis from a first end to a second end to be selectively engaged by the exterior outer surface of the rotor with the first end.

14. The valve assembly of claim 11 , further comprising:
a pliable cover;
wherein the pliable cover defines at least in part a reservoir relative to the external wall.

15. A method to operate a valve assembly to control a flow of a fluid through a valve mechanism, comprising:
positioning the valve assembly configured to be connected to an inlet and an outlet to allow the fluid to flow to and away from the valve mechanism;
overcoming a return spring force of a return spring to disengage a rotor projection from a stop wall;
positioning a rotor at a first position relative to a valve member by rotating the rotor around an axle that extends from a base surface of a valve cup, wherein in the first position a first cam surface of the rotor engages the valve member;
wherein the cam surface is formed on an exterior surface of the rotor and the first cam surface defines a first radius;
axially moving a follower member along an axis to axially move the valve member along the axis upon rotating the rotor.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein engaging the rotor includes positioning an adjustment member to magnetically interact with at least a portion of the rotor.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein engaging the rotor further includes lifting the rotor relative to the base to disengage a stop projection extending from the rotor from a stop wall.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
rotating the rotor to a second position relative to the valve member by rotating the rotor around the axle that extends from the base surface of the valve cup, wherein in the second position a second cam surface of the rotor engages the valve member;
wherein the second cam surface has a second radius different than the first radius.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
implanting the valve assembly in line with a conduit.

Assignees

• Medtronic Xomed Inc

Inventors

• Bertrand W Jeffrey

Classifications

• A61B5/031

  Intracranial pressure · CPC title

• F16K15/1823

  for ball check valves · CPC title

• F16K31/52425

  with a ball-shaped valve member · CPC title

• A61M2210/0693

  Brain, cerebrum · CPC title

• A61M2205/3334

  Measuring or controlling the flow rate · CPC title