Device for normalizing the internal pressure in the skull by regulating the drainage of cerebrospinal fluid from the skull via a catheter to another body space has micro-electronic and -mechanical pressure sensor and controller

摘要

Device comprises a number of semiconductor or insulating chips which have been processed using micro-structure techniques such as doping, etching. The device is mounted in a fluid channel to produce a voltage or current that is proportional to the skull inner pressure. The voltage is used to control a flow regulation valve that controls the resistance to fluid draining from the skull. The flow regulation valve is electrically or mechanically operated and is controlled by a programmable device such as a microprocessor that adjusts the skull inner pressure to a desirable value.