Hydrocephalic antenatal vent for intrauterine treatment (HAVIT)

US4413985A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The Government of the U.S.A. as rep. by the Secretary of the Dept. of Health and Human Services · US

Inventors

• Edward L. Wellner · Colgate, US
• Maria Michejda · Potomac, US
• Gary D. Hodgen · Norfolk, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 30, 1981
• Grant date: Nov 8, 1983
• Expiry date: Nov 30, 2001

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61M2210/145
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A hydrocephalic drainage valve consisting of a hollow shank with a pointed conical tip. The shank has an intake port adjacent the conical tip. A ball check valve in the shank is urged by a coiled spring toward closing relationship with the port. A hollow set screw is adjustably mounted in the shank to vary the biasing force on the valve ball. In one form, for manual implantation, a sleeve is slidably mounted on the shank, has a centrally apertured enlarged head and has implantation enlarged threads near the head. The head has aligned opposite radial grooves which are engageable by a manual insertion tool. In other forms, for pneumatic insertion, the shank has an enlarged head, employed as a driving piston in a pneumatic insertion tube. A washer member with implantation barbs is slidably mounted on the shank and is arranged to be locked to the shank subjacent the head responsive to the pneumatic driving action, with its barbs embedded in the fetal skin around the implantation puncture, thus holding the shank in operating position with the intake port exposed in the cranial vault.