Aesculap has released the Miethke proSA, a shunt valve for treatment of hydrocephalus that offers innovative features to improve patient experience. The gravitational valve controls the flow of cerebrospinal fluid depending on whether the wearer is horizontal or upright. The physician has the option of using preset flow rates or adjusting them as needed using a compatible valve.
Unlike many other valves, the flow rates for horizontal and vertical positions can be adjusted independently of each other, a feature that should help improve the daily comfort of its users.
From the announcement:
The wide adjustability range from 0-40 cmH2O enables surgeons to manage the needs of a wide selection of patient types or patient needs such as height or weight changes. proSA’s resistance can be reduced to zero if a gravitational valve is not needed, or increased if more resistance is required. With a maximum setting of 40 cmH2O, proSA, when combined with a fixed or adjustable valve, gives surgeons the highest opening pressure available for the upright positions.
proSA’s integrated Active-Lock MR brake helps prevent the valve from inadvertent pressure adjustments in 1.5 and 3T MRI scanners, and the need for re-adjustments after an MRI.
One very challenging aspect of managing a Hydrocephalus patient’s condition is effectively maintaining a patient’s CSF drainage to keep ICP within normal physiological ranges. CSF tends to drain faster when a patient is standing, causing a decrease in ICP, which results in headaches, nausea and other debilitating symptoms. This necessitates the need for higher valve resistance in upright positions. The taller the patient, the higher the necessary resistance.
Flashback: Miethke miniNAV Non-Gravity Assisted Differential Pressure Hydrocephalus Shunt
Product page: proSA…
Press release: Aesculap, Inc. Introduces the Miethke proSA™
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