Ultrasound-based shunt flow detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12415057-B2
Application number	US-202017773152-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 30, 2020
Priority date	Oct 31, 2019
Publication date	Sep 16, 2025
Grant date	Sep 16, 2025

Abstract

The present invention provides devices and systems for detecting shunt malfunction. The detection devices employ ultrasound instrumentations to evaluate shunt malfunction. The detection devices can be coupled with pumps to provide consistent shunt valve and/or reservoir actuation for reliable readings. The devices can output a determination of a degree of shunt blockage and relative location of shunt blockage.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A shunt malfunction detection system, comprising:
a shunt malfunction detection device comprising a housing having a sensing end with an indentation sized to fit over a section of a subcutaneously implanted shunt; and
an ultrasound transducer within the housing aimed towards the sensing end.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound transducer is a Doppler ultrasound transducer.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a component selected from the group consisting of: a screen, a wireless transceiver, a microprocessor, a memory module, and a power source.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a pumping device.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the pumping device comprises a housing and an actuation plate, wherein the actuation plate comprises a bump or raised element configured to depress a shunt valve and/or reservoir.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the system further comprises a pumping device comprising a housing and an actuation plate, wherein the actuation plate comprises a bump or raised element configured to depress a shunt valve and/or reservoir.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the pumping device further comprises a solenoid connected to the actuation plate, wherein the solenoid is configured to apply a force of actuation to the actuation plate.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the pumping device further comprises a force sensor connected to the actuation plate and solenoid, wherein the force sensor is configured to measure the force of actuation to the actuation plate.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the pumping device further comprises a wireless transceiver that is wirelessly linked to the shunt malfunction detection device, such that the shunt malfunction detection device is configured to control a timing, force, and sequence of actuation to the pumping device.

Assignees

• Musc Found For Res Dev

Inventors

• Alshareef Mohammed
• Eskandari Ramin
• Vasas Joseph Tyler

Classifications

• G01F1/663

  by measuring Doppler frequency shift · CPC title

• A61M2205/3584

  using modem, internet or Bluetooth® · CPC title

• A61M2205/3375

  Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means · CPC title

• A61M2205/332

  Force measuring means · CPC title

• G06N20/00

  Machine learning · CPC title