Depus Adjustment Kit: Locator, Compass and Magnet Explained
The Depus Adjustment Kit explained: what the Locator, Compass and Magnet each do, the 3 and 5 Pressure versions, and how the kit is supplied.
The Depus Adjustment Kit is the accessory used to check and change the pressure of adjustable Depus shunt valves non-invasively. It holds three tools: the Locator identifies the valve and the target directions of its pressure levels, the Compass checks the pressure level, and the Magnet sets the valve to the target pressure.
Key takeaways
- The Locator identifies the valve and the target directions of its pressure levels; the Compass checks the level; the Magnet sets it.
- Of the three tools, the Magnet is the one that changes the valve pressure.
- DP-ADJKIT3 and DP-ADJKIT5 serve the 3 Pressure and 5 Pressure adjustable Depus systems.
- The kit is non-sterile and reusable, kept in a dedicated case; technique belongs to the surgeon and the instructions for use.
Nurses, biomedical staff and hospital buyers usually meet the kit as a line on an order or a case on a shelf. It belongs with the DESU range of hydrocephalus shunt systems, and each tool in it has one clear job. Whether, when and how a valve is adjusted is for the treating neurosurgeon and the instructions for use.
What is the Depus Adjustment Kit for?
An adjustable valve is a shunt valve whose pressure level can be changed non-invasively. That creates two practical needs: finding out what level the valve is at, and changing that level. The kit serves both: it is an accessory system that supports non-invasive adjustment, used to check and change valve pressure on adjustable Depus shunts.
It is designed for adjustable Depus valves. Fixed-pressure Depus valves and the fixed-pressure Defit and Decurve families come in low, medium or high pressure options with no setting to change, so a department using only those valves has no use for the kit. For how that choice is framed, see fixed-pressure vs adjustable shunt valves.
What does the Locator do?
The Locator answers the question “where?”. It helps determine the correct position of the adjustable valve and the target directions of the pressure levels on the valve.
It is used in the first stage of positioning, so that the adjustment is performed in the correct area. It deals with position and direction; changing the pressure is the job of a different tool.
What does the Compass do?
The Compass answers the question “what level is it at?”. It is used to check the pressure level of the adjustable valve. It supports assessment of the valve pressure position before or after adjustment, and helps confirm that the system is at the correct pressure level.
That makes it the reading tool of the kit, and the one used on both sides of a change: to see the current level first, and to confirm the level afterwards.
What does the Magnet do?
The Magnet answers the question “how is the level changed?”. It is the component that changes the pressure level of the adjustable valve. After the Locator has identified the valve position, the Magnet is used to set the valve to the target pressure.
The tool does not decide the target. The target level is selected according to the adjustable Depus system in use, and the choice of level is a clinical decision for the treating surgeon.
How do the tools relate to each other?
| Item | Question it answers | Role | Changes the pressure? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Locator | Where is the valve, and in which directions do the pressure levels lie? | Helps determine the valve position and the target directions of the pressure levels | No |
| Compass | What level is the valve at? | Checks the pressure level, before or after adjustment | No |
| Magnet | How is the level changed? | Sets the valve to the target pressure | Yes |
| Reusable case | Where is the kit kept? | Keeps the three tools together and stores the kit for reuse | No |
The stages run in this order: locate the valve, check the current pressure level, select the target, adjust, then check again. Positioning, precautions and every practical step are in the instructions for use.
For the valve side of the story, see the engineering of Depus adjustable systems.
How do the 3 Pressure and 5 Pressure versions differ?
The kit comes in two versions, one for each adjustable Depus system. Both contain the same three tools, and both are non-sterile and reusable. The difference is the number of pressure levels they serve.
| Feature | 3 Pressure | 5 Pressure |
|---|---|---|
| Order code | DP-ADJKIT3 | DP-ADJKIT5 |
| Pressure options | 3 levels: low, medium, high | 5 levels |
| Locator, Compass, Magnet | Yes | Yes |
| Reusable | Yes | Yes |
| Sterile | No | No |
If your department needs numeric values for the pressure levels, our product specialists can provide them for the specific system.
The practical check for a buyer is short: confirm which adjustable Depus system is in use or planned, then order the kit version made for it.
How is the kit supplied?
- Non-sterile: the kit is not supplied sterile, unlike the EO-sterilised shunt systems it serves.
- Reusable: the tools are kept for repeat use rather than discarded after one patient.
- Dedicated case: the case keeps the Locator, Magnet and Compass together.
- Its own product: the kit has its own order codes and is not part of a shunt kit’s contents.
That makes it a different kind of purchase from an implant. A shunt kit is used up with each case, while the adjustment kit stays with the department. So a hospital that adopts adjustable Depus valves has a local decision to make: where the kit is kept, and who is responsible for it.
Cleaning, inspection and storage of the tools follow the instructions for use.
Talk to a DESU product specialist
To confirm which Adjustment Kit version matches your adjustable Depus valves, or to request the instructions for use, DESU product specialists can help. Write to sales@desu.tr, use the contact page, or request a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Does a hospital using only fixed-pressure valves need this kit?
No. The kit is made for adjustable Depus valves. Fixed-pressure Depus, Defit and Decurve valves are chosen at a low, medium or high option and have no setting to read or change with these tools.
Does an adjustable shunt arrive with an Adjustment Kit?
No. The kit is a separate product with the codes DP-ADJKIT3 and DP-ADJKIT5, and it is not part of a shunt kit’s contents. A department ordering its first adjustable valves should check that a matching kit is on the order as well.
Can the 3 Pressure kit be used on a 5 Pressure valve?
Each version is made for its own system, so order the kit that matches your valves. For any question about compatibility, see the instructions for use or tell us which valves you use.
Does the kit have to be sterilised before use?
The kit is supplied non-sterile in its reusable case. Handling between uses follows the instructions for use.
Related standards
- ISO 13485: Medical devices — Quality management systems