| 摘要 |
<p>A surgically implantable shunt system (20), including a flow control valve (24) and an antechamber (22), is provided for controlling the release of entrapped body fluids. The flow control valve (24) includes a pair of molded plastic bases (42, 44) situated, respectively, adjacent to an inlet (74) and an outlet (76) of the valve (24), which bases (42, 44) are situated within a flexible encasement (46). Each base (42, 44) includes an outer housing (48, 56), a valve membrane carrier (50, 58) positioned within the housing (48, 56), and a flow control member (52, 60). The flow control members (52, 60) each include a rigid nail-like central support and a separate flexible resilient membrane (70) positioned on the central support. The first flow control member (52) is capable of selectively occluding the valve inlet (74), but is normally spaced from its base (42) to permit free fluid flow through the inlet (74). The second flow control member (60) is generally arch-shaped and resiliently biased to contact its respective base (44) generally along the outer edge of the membrane (70) in a manner permitting only controlled one-way flow through the valve (24). The antechamber (22) permits injection of medication into the shunt (20) between a proximal catheter and the distal flow control valve (24), and pumping of the medication in either direction. Additionally, a method for assembling the shunt system (20) in a quick and economical manner is provided, which utilizes tapered grommets (96) to anchor components in place prior to adhesively securing tubing (28, 30) to the flexible encasement (46).</p> |
