Miniaturized passive hydrogel check valve for hydrocephalus treatment

Helen N. Schwerdt, Ruth E. Bristol, Junseok Chae

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Improvements in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) draining techniques for treatment of hydrocephalus are urgently sought after to substitute for current CSF shunts that are plagued by high failure rates. The passive check valve aims to restore near natural CSF draining operations while mitigating possible failure mechanisms caused by finite leakage or low resilience that frequently constrain practical implementation of miniaturized valves. A simple hydrogel diaphragm structures core passive valve operations and enforce valve sealing properties to substantially lower reverse flow leakage. Experimental measurements demonstrate realization of targeted cracking pressures (PT ≈ 20-110 mmH 2O) and operation at-800 < ΔP < 600 mmH2O without observable degradation or leakage.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number6661354
Pages (from-to)814-820
Number of pages7
JournalIEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering
Volume61
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2014

Keywords

  • Check valve
  • hydrogel
  • implantable microsystem
  • intracranial pressure (ICP) regulation
  • passive valve

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biomedical Engineering

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