Implantable adjustable valve

摘要

A valve unit (100) capable of being implanted in a patient and having adjustable performance settings, such as pressure settings and/or flow control, to regulate passage of a bodily fluid. A casing (103) defines a port (102) for the bodily fluid, and a valve mechanism (140) positioned at the port includes a movable valve member (144). The valve unit further includes a rotor (120) disposed at a first location in the casing and having an axle which turns about an axis of rotation. The rotor defines a plurality of arcuate, radially flat cam surfaces (122). Each cam surface occupies an arc about the axis of rotation. A spring arm (130) unit is disposed at a second location in the casing having a cam follower arm (132) in slidable contact with the cam surfaces of the rotor and having a resilient spring element applying a closing effect with the movable valve member to establish a performance setting for the valve unit. Sufficient rotation of the rotor to change the cam surface in contact with the cam follower alters the closing effect with which the valve member moves relative to the port and thereby alters the performance setting of the valve unit.