Founded in 1976, SOPHYSA was the pioneer in the development of adjustable neurosurgical valves to treat hydrocephalus. Introduced in 1984, the Sophy® valve was the first adjustable valve in the World allowing non-invasive adjustment of operating pressures, to match an individual patient's changing clinical needs.
Acquired in 1989 by the Japanese tkb Group, SOPHYSA expanded quickly in France, and abroad, gaining global recognition in the field of Neurosurgery.
In 2004, SOPHYSA launched the Polaris® valve, the first adjustable valve with a lock, specifically designed to resist unintentional changes in operating pressure – a milestone in adjustable valve safety. Polaris® offers the patient an unequalled security against the clinical risks associated with those dysadjustments.
In 2005, SOPHYSA introduced Pressio®,a user-friendly Intra-Cranial Pressure monitoring system for neurosurgery and neurotrauma, bringing the continuous intracranial pressure monitoring to a new level of performance and ease of use.
As a neurosurgery specialist, SOPHYSA manufactures and markets a wide range of neurosurgical implants for the treatment of hydrocephalus, including various types of valves, catheters, reservoirs and accessories, a range of ICP sensors and external drainage systems, as well as subcutaneous spinal access ports.
SOPHYSA markets its products worldwide through an international network of exclusive distributors. In France and Benelux, SOPHYSA products are marketed by direct sales representatives.
The safety of adjustable valves has become a major concern for neurosurgeons because of the growing use of electromagnetic devices in daily life and the development of high power MRI (3 teslas).
Indeed, these devices are liable to modify the selected pressure accidentally, with the risk of disrupting CSF drainage and causing serious complications for the patient.
The Polaris® valve is a major breakthrough for the safety of patients fitted with adjustable valves.
Its exclusive locking mechanism enables it to resist:
Direct knocks to the valve;
Everyday magnetic fields;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), up to 3 teslas.
It offers the patient an unequalled security against the clinical risks associated with pressure dysadjustments.
The adjustable Polaris® valve is a major breakthrough for the safety of patients thanks to the patented self-locking system of the rotor.
This magnetic lock has been designed to resist unintentional operating pressure changes due to knocks or exposure to magnetic fields, especially during MRI examinations.
It offers the patient an unequalled security against the clinical risks associated with those dysadjustments.
The Polaris® Magnetic Lock
The Polaris® Magnetic Lock is based on the permanent reciprocal attraction of two mobile micro-magnets of opposite polarity.
This “magnetic lock" holds the rotor in the selected position, thus preventing any accidental change in operating pressure if the valve is exposed
to magnetic fields.
In fact, in the presence of a standard magnetic field (unidirectional) the two micro-magnets are attracted in the same direction.
So only one of the two magnets moves in the direction of the field, while the other remains locked.
Changing the operating pressure of the valve first requires the simultaneous unlocking of the two micro-magnets in the valve by a specific magnetic key. The rotor can then turn freely on its central axis.
Normal position
Security position
Valve subjected to a knock or to a magnetic field
Adjustment position
with specific magnetic key
Direct pressure reading is obtained using the Adjustment Kit Compass: the Compass needle is aligned with the position of the magnetic rotor.
In addition to the standard model (30-200 mmH 2O), Polaris® also offers a unique special pressure range :
one low pressure valve and two high pressure valves. Thus a choice is provided, depending on the experience of the practitioner, to meet very specific clinical needs.
The Adjustable Sophy® Mini valve is a high-precision device of unparalleled simplicity.
The principle of the Sophy® valve resides in the variation in pressure exerted on a ball by a semi-circular spring at various points along its circumference. The spring is attached to a magnetic rotor which position can be non-invasively changed using an adjustment magnet. A series of indentations allows a variety of positions to be selected, each position representing a different pressure setting.
Direct pressure reading is obtained using the adjustment kit compass: the compass needle is aligned with the position of the magnetic rotor.
In addition to the standard model (30-200 mmH 2O), Sophy® Mini SM8 also offers a unique special pressure range: one low pressure valve and two high pressure valves. Thus a choice is provided, depending on the experience of the practitioner, to meet very special needs
The Sophy® Mini SM8-140 and SM8 can be associated with SiphonX®, an anti-siphon device, which adds 200 mmH 2O in vertical position.