Novel Low-Profile Ventriculoamniotic Shunt For Fetal Acqueductal Stenosis
Inventors: Stephen Paul Emery: Yanfei Chen: Young Jae Chun: Stephanie Greene: William R. Wagner PhD: Xinzhu Gu
Patent Number: PCT/US2016/056751
Abstract
The invention relates to an in-utero ventriculoamniotic shunting device that includes a shunt tube (26) composed of polymer composite and having metallic wire embedded therein, one or more anchors (30) composed of superelastic wire, e.g., thermal shape-set nitinol structures, that are mechanically attached to an exterior surface of the shunt tube (26), and a one-way passive valve (32) composed of a thin polymer membrane. The anchors (30) are effective to prevent migration and dislodgement of the shunting device following its deployment, and the valve (32) is effective to prevent the backflow of amniotic fluid (23).