VARIABLE FLOW RESHAPABLE FLOW RESTRICTOR APPARATUS AND RELATED METHODS

摘要

A novel apparatus and associated methods for controlling the flow through a flow restrictor using a reshapable lumen. The lumen reshapes as a function of the pressure differential over the flow restrictor. Because flow rate is proportional by the fourth order of magnitude to the diameter of the lumen, small changes in the pressure differential allow for larger changes in the flow rate over conventional flow restrictor systems and provides for real time, fine-tuned adjustments to the flow rate.