Method and apparatus for valve adjustment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12017024-B2
Application number	US-202017067106-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 9, 2020
Priority date	Aug 24, 2017
Publication date	Jun 25, 2024
Grant date	Jun 25, 2024

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 body having an outer wall and a base wall with a stop wall that extends from the base wall;
a rotor having an outer surface;
a valve member;
a valve biasing assembly;
a valve seat 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 outer surface of the rotor to apply a selected force to the valve member;
wherein the valve biasing assembly includes a spring member;
wherein the valve member and the spring member 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 rotor rotates about an axle extending from the base wall;
wherein the axle is spaced away from the stop wall.

4. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the rotor further includes:
a substantially planar surface;
a projection extending from the substantially planar surface;
wherein the projection selectively engages the stop wall to hold the rotor in a selected position.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , further comprising:
a return spring positioned to engage and bias the rotor toward the base wall.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the valve biasing assembly includes:
the spring member; and
a separate follower member,
wherein the valve member is biased into the closed position with the spring member and the follower member at least partially received with the passage,
wherein the follower member is engaged by the outer surface of the rotor to apply a selected force on the spring member.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base wall 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 about an axis.

9. 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 body having an outer wall;
a rotor having an outer surface;
a valve member;
a valve biasing assembly;
a valve seat 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 b the outer surface of the rotor to apply a selected force to the valve member;
wherein the valve biasing assembly includes a spring member;
wherein the valve member and the spring member are at least partially received within the passage; and
an outlet to allow the fluid to flow away from the valve mechanism;
wherein the valve biasing assembly includes:
the spring member;
a lever follower member;
wherein the valve member is biased into the closed position with the spring member and the follower member at least partially received within the passage,
wherein the follower member is engaged by the outer surface of the rotor to apply a selected force on the spring member.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the lever follower member is moveable around a fulcrum when engaged by the outer surface of the rotor.

11. A valve assembly to control a flow of a fluid, comprising:
a valve body defining an internal volume and having:
an external wall;
a stop wall positioned within the internal volume; and
an axle positioned within the internal volume;

a rotor that rotates relative to the axle and includes;
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; and
a magnetic member;

a valve seat in a passage extending through the external wall of the valve body;
a valve member configured to engage the valve seat to seal the passage; and
a valve biasing assembly; and
a pliable cover;
wherein the pliable cover defines at least in part a reservoir relative to the external 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 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 to be selectively engaged by the outer surface of the rotor.

14. 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;
positioning a rotor at a first position relative to a valve member by rotating the rotor, 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; and
manipulating a pliable cover of a reservoir in the valve assembly to increase flow through the valve assembly.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein rotating the rotor includes positioning an adjustment member to magnetically interact with at least a portion of the rotor.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein rotating the rotor further includes lifting the rotor relative to base to disengage a stop projection extending from the rotor from a stop wall.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
rotating the rotor to a second position relative to the valve member by rotating the rotor around an axle that extends from the base; 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.

18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
implanting the valve assembly in line with a conduit.

Assignees

• Medtronic Xomed Inc

Inventors

• Bertrand W Jeffery

Classifications

• A61B5/032

  Spinal fluid pressure · CPC title

• A61B5/031

  Intracranial pressure · CPC title

• F16K15/1823

  for ball check valves · CPC title

• F16K31/52425

  with a ball-shaped valve member · CPC title

• A61M39/22

  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)} · CPC title