SELF CLEANING SHUNT

Abstract

A self cleaning inlet head for use on a shunt. The head has a tube with openings disposed in predetermined positions in its wall, and a cleaning element installed inside the tube. The cleaning element may comprise a central shaft with a number of bristles protruding therefrom, preferably in locations substantially identical to the positions of the openings in the wall of the tube. Mutual vibratory motion between the cleaning element and the tube causes at least some of the bristles to enter the openings, thereby keeping them clear, and preventing tissue growth into them. The vibratory motion may be generated by the action of an external field on a responsive part of the cleaning element, such as an external magnetic field operating on a magnetic or magnetized part of the cleaning element or the bristles. Alternatively, the external field may be an ultrasound field operating on the bristles.

Claims

1. A fluid inlet head for use on a shunt, comprising: a first tube having a set of openings disposed in its wall; and a cleaning element comprising a central shaft with a number of bristles protruding therefrom such that when said cleaning element is installed within said first tube, at least some of said bristles can enter said openings; wherein said cleaning element is adapted to vibrate when subjected to a vibration generating system, such that said bristles can move within said openings.

2. A fluid inlet head for use on a shunt, according to claim 1, wherein said first tube is essentially cylindrical.

3. A fluid inlet head for use on a shunt, according to claim 1, wherein said openings are disposed in predetermined lateral and radial positions in said tube wall, and said bristles protrude from said cleaning element in lateral and radial locations substantially aligned with the lateral and radial positions of said openings in the wall of said first tube.

4. A fluid inlet head for use on a shunt, according to claim 1, wherein said bristles are attached to a central shaft of said cleaning element.

5. A fluid inlet head for use on a shunt, according to claim 1, wherein said vibration generating system generates an external field which operates on said cleaning element.

6. A fluid inlet head for use on a shunt, according to claim 5, wherein said external field is an alternating magnetic field, and said cleaning element comprises at least one of a magnetic material and a magnetized material.

7. A fluid inlet head for use on a shunt, according to claim 6, wherein said shaft is constructed of either one of a magnetic material and a magnetized material.

8. A fluid inlet head for use on a shunt, according to claim 6 wherein at least some of said bristles are constructed of either one of a magnetic material and a magnetized material.

9. A fluid inlet head for use on a shunt, according to claim 1, wherein said vibration generating system is a vibration transducer disposed on said cleaning element.

10. A fluid inlet head for use on a shunt, according to claim 1, wherein the vibration generating system comprises an externally applied ultrasound field having a frequency in the range of the mechanical self-resonant frequency of at least some of the bristles.

11. A fluid inlet head for use on a shunt, according to claim 1, wherein the length of said bristles is such that they do not protrude substantially through said openings beyond the outer wall of said first tube.

12. A fluid inlet head for use on a shunt according to claim 1, further comprising a second tube having a set of openings, at least some of which are disposed in its wall in the same predetermined lateral and radial locations as those of said first tube, said second tube being installed inside said first tube, such that when said tubes are not aligned with said sets of openings mutually lined up, the bristles on said cleaning element cannot protrude into said openings in said first cylindrical tube.

13. A fluid inlet head for use on a shunt, according to claim 13, further comprising a mechanism for changing the alignment of said first and second tubes, such that said sets of openings can be mutually lined up only after installation of said fluid inlet head.

14. A method of maintaining clear the openings of a fluid inlet head for use on a shunt, comprising: providing a fluid inlet head for use on said shunt, said head comprising a first tube having a set of openings disposed in its wall and a cleaning element comprising a central shaft with a number of bristles protruding therefrom, such that when said cleaning element is installed within said first tube, at least some of said bristles can enter said openings; and vibrating said cleaning element such that said bristles can to move within said openings, thereby maintaining them clear.

15. A method according to claim 15, wherein said vibrating is performed using an external field which operates on said cleaning element.

16. A method according to claim 16, wherein said external field is an alternating magnetic field, and said cleaning element comprises at least one of a magnetic material and a magnetized material.

17. A method, according to claim 17, wherein said shaft is constructed of either one of a magnetic material and a magnetized material.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein at least some of said bristles are constructed of either one of a magnetic material and a magnetized material.

19. A method according to claim 15, wherein said cleaning element further comprises a vibration transducer, and said vibration is performed by actuating said vibration transducer.

20. A method according to claim 15, wherein said vibrating comprises applying an external ultrasound field in the frequency range of the mechanical self-resonant frequency of at least some of said bristles.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The presently claimed invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art CSF shunt system, implanted into the cranial cavity of a child;

[0028] FIG. 2 shows schematically a prior art shunt head;

[0029] FIG. 3 illustrates schematically an exemplary tube element suitable for use at the distal end of the shunt;

[0030] FIGS. 4A and 4B are two schematic views of a cleaning element adapted for use with the drain tube element of FIG. 3;

[0031] FIG. 5 is a cutaway drawing of the completely assembled self-cleaning shunt head of the present application;

[0032] FIG. 6 is an X-ray isometric drawing of the complete head shown in FIG. 5; and

[0033] FIG. 7 illustrates schematically a further implementation of the device of FIGS. 5 and 6, utilizing a second cylindrical tube for preventing the bristles from projecting from the head when installing it.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which illustrates schematically an example of a tube element 50 suitable for use at the distal end of the shunt. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the fluid draining openings are arranged in arrays of slots down the length of the tube, each array being positioned at a different angular position around the circumference of the tube.

[0035] In the example shown in FIG. 3, two visible rows of slots 52, 54 are shown arranged at angularly orthogonal positions relative to each other, but such a tube may typically have four such rows, arranged at 90 to each other, or any other number of rows of openings. Furthermore, although the tube is shown having an essentially cylindrical profile, this being the most convenient shape to manufacturer, tubes with other sectional profile shapes can also be used in this application.

[0036] Reference is now made to FIGS. 4A and 4B, which illustrate schematically a cleaning element adapted for use with the drain tube of FIG. 3. FIG. 4A is a side view of the cleaning element, while FIG. 4B is an end view thereof. The cleaner element has a central shaft 41 with a number of bristles 42, 44 attached thereto. The bristles are preferably located longitudinally along the shaft such that the distance between successive bristles is the same as the distance between successive openings in the tube. Likewise they should preferably be located radially around the shaft at the same angular intervals as the openings in the tube. In the example shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, four radial sets of bristles are shown located at right angles to each other. The arrangement of bristles should be such that when the cleaner is positioned correctly, the bristles are located opposite the openings in the tube.

[0037] Reference is now made to FIGS. 5 and 6, each illustrating the completely assembled self-cleaning shunt head. FIG. 5 is a cutaway drawing of the head, while FIG. 6 is an X-ray isometric drawing of the head. In FIG. 5, the bristles 44 are shown protruding into the slots 54. In the isometric drawing of FIG. 6, both orthogonal sets of bristles are shown protruding into their respective slots. Bristles 44 extend in the vertical direction of the drawing upwards and downwards into the slots 54, while bristles 42 extended in the horizontal direction of the drawing sideways into the slots 52.

[0038] In order for the bristles to perform their cleaning action, the cleaning element must be vibrated. One particularly simple way of achieving such vibration is by having one or more onboard magnets or ferromagnetic slugs attached to the cleaner shaft, or by making the cleaner shaft itself of a magnetic or magnetized material, and applying an external alternating magnetic field by means of a coil or a vibrating permanent magnet, that will influence the small magnet(s) or ferromagnetic element on the cleaner element and cause vibrations thereof. This implementation enables unlimited operation time, since the activation energy for generating the vibration is provided externally and is not dependent on the use of onboard batteries, while also maintaining simplicity of operation. The applied field direction may be such that the cleaning element vibrates along its length, or in any other direction other than axial which causes the bristles to penetrate the slot openings, or in any combination of such motions. Thus, for example, since the shaft diameter may be small compared with the internal diameter of the tube, sufficient clearance can be provided for the cleaner element to vibrate in a rotation motion around axes perpendicular to the axis of the tube, such that the cleaner performs a see-saw type of motion, with bristles at opposite ends penetrating slots at opposite sides of the tube. In general, the vibratory motion generation system should be such as to reduce as much as possible sensitivity to direction of the externally applied field, so as not to restrict the positioning of the patient when the cleaning procedure is activated. Entry of bristles into the slots in any manner which results in successful clearance of the slots may be advantageous.

[0039] As an alternative to causing the shaft to vibrate, it is possible to generate the vibrations directly in the fibers, such as by making them of a magnetized or a magnetic material and applying an external alternating magnetic field, or by any other suitable method. The external field can be applied from outside of the subject's body in which the shunt is installed.

[0040] An alternative method of generating the vibrations could be by use of an ultrasound signal applied externally at a frequency related to the mechanical self-resonant frequency of the bristles, such that they vibrate when the field is applied.

[0041] The vibrations must be of such magnitude and direction that the bristles vibrate within the openings in the tube. Optimally, the bristles should penetrate the slots to their full depth, so that no tissue growth or blockage can occur at any depth in the slots. Limiting the extension outside the tube may be advisable in order to avoid injury to tissues around the tube, though some penetration outside the tube may be allowable. There may be several slots in different directions so that the cleaning process can be made less sensitive to the direction of the applied external field.

[0042] It is also possible to have an on-board vibration generator 56 mounted on the cleaning element, such as is shown schematically in FIG. 5. Operation of the cleaning process can then be simpler, as there is no need to activate any external influence, but rather the cleaning is done autonomously. The on-board power supply may be long-lasting, or may be capable of being charged by an external power supply. The on-board vibration generator can be a mechanical transducer, such as by means of an eccentric or stepped rotating element, a magnetic transducer or a piezoelectric transducer, or any other form of vibration generator. The internal battery can be recharged when necessary by means of an externally applied induced field, as is known in the art. As an alternative to the use of an on-board battery, the vibration transducer can be provided with leads to an external power connector, and the vibration transducer powered directly by connection of an external power source to the connector when the cleaning procedure is to be activated.

[0043] In use, the tube with the openings is installed on the end of the shunt catheter before installation, with the cleaner inside. The combination cleaner element and tube are attached to a regular shunt tube instead of its punctured segment. The final result looks similar to the original shunt in shape and size, except that the punctured segment has been replaced by the tube and bristled cleaner. As an alternative, the cleaner may be embedded within the original shunt head tube. As an alternative, the cleaner element can be installed once the shunt is in position. At predetermined intervals the cleaner is vibrated in order to ensure that the openings remain clear of ingrowing tissue.

[0044] The movement of the cleaning element inside the tube depends on the alignment of the magnet and the amplitude and frequency of the magnetic field generated by the external source (using the example of a magnetic field driven application). The motion generated may be such that the bristles can generally move in two ways:

(i) Forward and backward inside the tube slots, by axial motion.
(ii) Inside and outside the tube slots by radial or rotational motion or a combination of both. By its movement, the cleaner changes the hydrodynamic flow pattern inside the slots, making it impossible for tissue to grow near and inside the openings, and preventing living tissue from growing inside the slots. In addition, the bristles themselves can mechanically clean out any tissue which begins to form in the openings between cleaning sessions.

[0045] Reference is now made to FIG. 7, which illustrates a further implementation of the present device, utilizing a second cylindrical tube 70 whose operation adds a safety factor when installing the device. The second tube 70 fits concentrically inside the first tube 50, and has a series of openings 74 in essentially the same positions as the openings in the outer tube. In order to prevent the bristles from sticking into surrounding tissue during installation of the shunt, the two concentric tubes are arranged to be aligned such that the openings are not opposite each other during insertion, such that the bristles are prevented from protruding from the outer tube and causing possible damage to surrounding tissue. Once the head of the shunt is installed into its desired position, the inner tube can be moved such that the openings of the inner and outer tube are now aligned, and the bristles can pass into the openings to perform their cleaning action. This movement can be generated by means of a simple mechanical motion imparted by the installation device once final location has been confirmed. The mutual motion of the inner and outer tubes is most conveniently performed in a lateral direction, though a rotational movement may also be used. In the drawing of FIG. 7, the openings are shown in their open aligned positions, during normal use after installation, so that the bristles can operate correctly in keeping the openings clear.

[0046] It is appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of various features described hereinabove as well as variations and modifications thereto which would occur to a person of skill in the art upon reading the above description and which are not in the prior art.

[0047] The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of this disclosure. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.