Definition of Spitz-Holter valve

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Spitz-Holter valve: A pioneering one-way valve created by John Holter to treat hydrocephalus. In 1955 Mr. Holter, , a hydraulics technician, and his wife had a son with hydrocephalus for which there was then no effective treatment. Mr. Holter designed a device with a tiny one-way valve that released controlled amounts of the cerebrospinal fluid from the brain into the atrium of the heart. Holter's prototype valve had two rubber condoms with slits in the top inserted at either end of a flexible piece of tubing. Spitz refers to the American neurosurgeon Eugene B. Spitz.

Also called a Spitz-Holter shunt.