Shunt Valve Pressure Converter
Shunts · Converter
Valve setting → pressure → the equivalent setting on any other valve
Pick a valve and setting (or type a pressure). The converter shows the opening pressure in mmH₂O, cmH₂O, mmHg and kPa, then finds the closest setting on every other valve — for the patient lying or upright, including add-on gravitational units.
Equivalent ≠ identical. Manufacturers measure at different flow rates (5, 10, 20 mL/h or 5–50 mL/h ranges), tolerances are ±10–35 mmH₂O, catheters add resistance, and siphon/gravity devices behave differently. Use the result as a starting estimate and confirm against the implant record and the device IFU.
1 · Source
Compare with the patient
2 · Closest equivalent settings
| Valve | Closest setting | Pressure | Difference | Lying / upright | Settings just below · above the source |
|---|
Quick unit converter
1 mmHg = 13.595 mmH₂O = 1.3595 cmH₂O · 1 cmH₂O = 0.7356 mmHg · 1 mmH₂O = 9.807 Pa. Miethke rounds to 1 mmHg ≈ 1.36 cmH₂O; Sophysa to 1 mmH₂O ≈ 0.074 mmHg.
How the converter works
- Lying comparisons use each valve's nominal opening pressure — the differential-pressure unit alone for gravitational valves.
- Upright comparisons use: the same pressure for valves with no posture device; the manufacturer's −50 cmH₂O hydrostatic chart for Medtronic Delta-chamber valves (Strata II, StrataMR II, Delta); DP + gravitational unit for Miethke gravitational valves and add-ons; +200 mmH₂O for Sophysa SiphonX; the high-pressure chamber for the DualSwitch valve.
- Where a manufacturer publishes a range (e.g., Medtronic 5 → 50 mL/h), the midpoint is used as nominal — the same value Medtronic's StrataVarius displays — and the range is shown.
- Flow-regulating valves (OSV II, M.flow), the flow-activated SiphonGuard, and valves without published per-setting pressures (Integra DP, Spitz-Holter, Integra GCA) are in the valve library but cannot be converted.
- Ties go to the lower pressure. Every value traces to a manufacturer document or FDA record linked in the valve library.