Abstract: A surgically-implantable shunt valve for venting cerebrospinal fluid in the treatment of hydrocephalus and for shunting other body fluids, the valve having a flexible diaphragm mounted within a non-metallic housing, a plate mounted on the flexible diaphragm, the plate having a circular aperture and the diaphragm having an opening aligned with the aperture, the diaphragm being generally coplanar with the plate, the diaphragm and plate dividing the housing into inlet and outlet chambers that communicate through the aperture, the inlet and outlet chambers being generally free of blind cavities so as to inhibit collection of debris, the valve having a valve element (such as a spherical ball) residing on the inlet side of the aperture, the valve element being biased against the circular periphery of the aperture to keep it closed until the cerebrospinal fluid pressure in the inlet chamber exceeds a preselected popping pressure, and the valve having a screw for making external adjustments to the popping pressure.
Abstract: An implantable manually-actuated dispensing system includes a housing wherein a reservoir and dispensing port are provided. Medicament within the reservoir is urged through the dispensing port in predetermined uniform dosages by a fluid circuit which serially includes a safety pump and a metering pump. The safety pump is first actuated and released to cause a quantity of medicament to be advanced through the fluid circuit into the chamber of the metering pump. The metering pump is next actuated to cause a predetermined dosage from the advanced medicament to be dispensed through the dispensing port. Check valves prevent reverse flow through the circuit and prevent medicament from entering the metering pump except upon actuation and release of the safety pump.
Abstract: A container with attached tubing set, for use in the administration of fluids to a patient, comprises a reservoir in fluid communication with the tubing set and an enclosure integrally associated with the reservoir and adapted to coilably receive the tubing set when the container is not in use. The container further includes a seal over an opening to the enclosure which is removable to extend the tubing set, and provide a fluid path therethrough, from the reservoir to the patient during administration of the fluid.
Abstract: A vest, made from quilted material, has a plurality of individually numbered positions formed thereon to establish a prescription sequence of therapy steps to aid victims of cystic fibrosis. Graphic material may be associated with each position to identify a body posture for the patient.
Abstract: The invention relates to a device made by a concentric dual lumen catheter, a pump, a small hemofilter, a glucose sensor which, by means of a microinfusion pump with a stepping motor controlled by a microprocessor can, through another concentric dual lumen catheter, inject insulin or glucose into the blood stream depending on glycemic levels.