RESETTABLE-PRESSURE HYDROCEPHALIC SHUNT W/REMOTE READOUT

THE ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE OF THIS EFFORT IS TO DEVELOP A HYDROCEPHALIC SHUNT THAT INCORPORATES A RESETTABLE-PRESSURE VALVE MECHANISM AND AN INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE (ICP) SENSOR WITH REMOTE READ-OUT DISPLAY. THE PURPOSE FOR THIS DEVICE IS TO PROVIDE NEUROSURGEONS WITH A SHUNT THAT CAN BE ADJUSTED AT ANY TIME SO AS TO IMPROVE DEGREE OF CONTROL OVERTHE ICP, AND THEREBY IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE. IN ADDITION, THE REMOTE READ-OUT FEATURE ENABLES THE NEUROSURGEON (OR HEALTH CARE WORKER) TO MONITOR THE PATIENT'S ICP ON A REGULAR AND/OR LONG-TERM BASIS. THIS FEATURE MAY BE DEVELOPED INDEPENDENTLY FOR APPLICATIONS NOT REQUIRING SHUNTING OF THE CEREBROSPINAL FLUID, SUCH AS MONITORING THE ICP IN A PATIENT WITH A BRAIN TUMOR. THE DESIGN CONCEPT WILL BE REFINED BY THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DIRECTOR OF R&D FOR HELIX MEDICAL UNDER THE PHASE I EFFORT. HELIX WILL DEVELOP A BENCH-TEST AND EVALUATION. A "FORM-FIT" VERSION IS PLANNED FOR PHASE II, WHICH WILL UNDERGO ANIMAL TESTS. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THERE WOULD BE A MARKET FOR OVER 100,000 OF THESE DEVICES PER YEAR. THE ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE OF THIS EFFORT IS TO DEVELOP A HYDROCEPHALIC SHUNT THAT INCORPORATES A RESETTABLE-PRESSURE VALVE MECHANISM AND AN INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE (ICP) SENSOR WITH REMOTE READ-OUT DISPLAY. THE PURPOSE FOR THIS DEVICE IS TO PROVIDE NEUROSURGEONS WITH A SHUNT THAT CAN BE ADJUSTED AT ANY TIME SO AS TO IMPROVE DEGREE OF CONTROL OVERTHE ICP, AND THEREBY IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE. IN ADDITION, THE REMOTE READ-OUT FEATURE ENABLES THE NEUROSURGEON (OR HEALTH CARE WORKER) TO MONITOR THE PATIENT'S ICP ON A REGULAR AND/OR LONG-TERM BASIS. THIS FEATURE MAY BE DEVELOPED INDEPENDENTLY FOR APPLICATIONS NOT REQUIRING SHUNTING OF THE CEREBROSPINAL FLUID, SUCH AS MONITORING THE ICP IN A PATIENT WITH A BRAIN TUMOR. THE DESIGN CONCEPT WILL BE REFINED BY THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DIRECTOR OF R&D FOR HELIX MEDICAL UNDER THE PHASE I EFFORT. HELIX WILL DEVELOP A BENCH-TEST AND EVALUATION. A "FORM-FIT" VERSION IS PLANNED FOR PHASE II, WHICH WILL UNDERGO ANIMAL TESTS. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THERE WOULD BE A MARKET FOR OVER 100,000 OF THESE DEVICES PER YEAR.