Non-invasively adjustable drainage device

Abstract

The device comprises at least an inlet tube for the passage of fluid to be drained, said tube being connected to a chamber wherein said chamber comprises rotating means for adjusting the flow rate in said tube.

1 .- 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . An adjustable drainage implantable device comprising:
 an inlet tube for a passage of a fluid to be drained;   a container having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, an interior of the container connected to the inlet tube via the inlet opening, the outlet opening allowing the drained fluid to exit the container; and   a turnable device having a variable-shaped opening to provide a variable resistance to a fluid flow at least at one of the inlet opening and the outlet opening of the container, the turnable device configured to be turned relative to the container such that different relative angular positions of the turnable device towards the container impose different fluid flow resistances.   
     
     
         13 . The adjustable drainage implantable device as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the variable-shaped opening is a longitudinal slit with a variable cross-section. 
     
     
         14 . The adjustable drainage implantable device as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the variable-shaped opening is a porous media with gradually changing porosity. 
     
     
         15 . The adjustable drainage implantable device as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the turnable device further forms a gasket for sealing the interior of the container but for the inlet opening and the outlet opening. 
     
     
         16 . The adjustable drainage implantable device as defined in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a gear device connected to the turnable device, the gear device configured to change an angular position of the turnable device in a step-wise fashion.   
     
     
         17 . The adjustable drainage implantable device as defined in  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a flexible beam applying a force to the gear device such that the turnable device is held by the flexible beam and the gear device to a defined angular position relative to the container.   
     
     
         18 . The adjustable drainage implantable device as defined in  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a permanent magnet fixed to the turnable device for changing the angular position of the gear device by a magnetic field by a device that is external to the adjustable drainage implantable device.   
     
     
         19 . A system for draining bodily fluids, comprising:
 an inlet tube for a passage of a fluid to be drained;   a container having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, an interior of the container connected to the inlet tube via the inlet opening, the outlet opening allowing the drained fluid to exit the container;   a turnable device having a variable-shaped opening to provide a variable resistance to a fluid flow at least at one of the inlet opening and the outlet opening of the container, the turnable device configured to be turned relative to the container such that different relative angular positions of the turnable device towards the container impose different fluid flow resistances;   a detector for determining an angular position of the turnable device; and   positioning means for positioning the turnable device to adjust the flow rate in the inlet tube.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a permanent magnet fixedly attached to turnable device,   wherein the detector includes a magnetoresistive sensor for detecting an angular position of the permanent magnet, and the positioning means includes an electromagnet for aligning the permanent magnet, the detector and the positioning means not being in contact with the turnable device.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the detector includes a rim, and the magnetoresistive sensors are mounted on the rim. 
     
     
         22 . A system for draining bodily fluids, comprising:
 an adjustable drainage implantable device including,
 an inlet tube for a passage of a fluid to be drained, and 
 a container forming a chamber connected to the inlet tube, the chamber having a turnable device for adjusting the flow rate in the inlet tube by directly engaging the inlet tube via a membrane, the membrane directly engaging the inlet tube, and the turnable device having a body that presses at variable degrees on the membrane depending on an angular position of the turnable device and thus imposes continuously variable degrees of constriction on a sectional area of the inlet tube; 
   a control device external to the adjustable drainage implantable device, the control device including,
 a detector for determining the position of the turnable device, and 
 positioning means for positioning the turnable device to adjust the flow rate of the inlet tube. 
   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the turnable device further includes a permanent magnet for detecting and adjusting the angular position of the turnable device, and wherein
 the detector includes magnetoresistive sensors for detecting the angular position of the permanent magnet and the positioning means includes an electromagnet for aligning the permanent magnet.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the detector comprises a rim and the magnetoresistive sensors are mounted on the rim.