Magnet management MRI compatibility

• US 10,130,807 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2016
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Original Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Inventors: Leigh, Charles Roger Aaron, Walling, Grahame Michael David, Von Huben, Mark Alan, Vandyke, James, Tuong, Nam Long
• Primary Examiner(s): Matthews, Christine H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lannu, Joshua D
• Application Number:
  US15/010,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20160361537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0541 Cochlear electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3718 Monitoring of or protection against external electromagnetic fields or currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37518 Anchoring of the implants, e.g. fixation

Abstract

An implantable medical device, including a magnet and a body encompassing the magnet, wherein the implantable medical device includes structural components in the body configured to move away from one another upon initial rotation of the magnet relative to the body when the magnet is subjected to an externally generated magnetic field, thereby limiting rotation of the magnet beyond the initial rotation.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a magnet; and

a body encompassing the magnet, wherein

the implantable medical device includes structural components in the body configured to move away from one another upon initial rotation of the magnet relative to the body when the magnet is subjected to an externally generated magnetic field that imparts a torque onto the magnet, thereby limiting rotation of the magnet beyond the initial rotation.

2. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein:

the implantable medical device is configured to resist movement of the structural components away from one another.

3. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein:

movement away of the structural components from one another tensions an elastomeric material of the body, thereby limiting further movement of the structural components away from one another, which in turn limits further rotation of the magnet beyond any initial rotation.

4. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein:

the structural components include surfaces facing one another in between which the magnet is located; and

the rotation of the magnet applies a force in a first direction against a first surface of one of the structural components and a force in a second direction against a second surface of one other of the structural components, thereby exerting forces on the components pushing the components away from one another, which exerted forces are at least partially resisted by the body, thereby limiting rotation of the magnet.

5. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein:

the magnet is part of a magnet apparatus; and

the implantable medical device is configured such that the magnet apparatus is slidable against the structural components, thereby enabling rotation relative to the structural components when the magnet is subjected to the externally generated magnetic field, relative to that which would exist with a configuration where the magnet apparatus was not slidable against the structural components.

6. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein:

the structural components comprise plates that sandwich the magnet, wherein torque applied to the magnet that imparts the rotation of the magnet imparts a camming action on the plates, thereby driving the plates away from one another, which camming action is counterbalanced when the plates have reached an equilibrium condition due to resistance to movement of the plates by the body.

7. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein:

the body includes at least one of an embryonic slit or indicia to a surgeon regarding a cutting area of the body, wherein a path proximate the at least one of the embryonic slit or the indicia leads to a location in the body where the magnet is located.

8. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a magnet apparatus; and

a body encompassing the magnet apparatus, wherein

the implantable medical device resists rotation of the magnet apparatus relative to the body in at least one plane when subjected to an externally generated magnetic field that imparts a torque onto the magnet apparatus due to a component relative to which the magnet apparatus is slidable, wherein the component is located within the body.

9. The implantable medical device of claim 8, further comprising:

a first structural component and a second structural component, the first and second structural components collectively sandwiching the magnet apparatus, wherein

the structural components resist rotation of the magnet apparatus in at least one plane within the body.

10. The implantable medical device of claim 9, wherein:

the magnet apparatus has a width and height, wherein the height is less than the width;

the first plate is located on a top side of the magnet apparatus, and

the second plate is located on a bottom side of the magnet apparatus opposite the top side, wherein

the plates extend in a direction normal to a direction of the height.

11. The implantable medical device of claim 10, wherein:

the body is made of elastomeric material; and

at least some of the elastomeric material of the body resists movement of the first plate away from the second plate due to rotational torque applied to the magnet apparatus by the externally generated magnetic field, thereby resisting rotation of the magnet apparatus.

12. The implantable medical device of claim 8, further comprising:

a first plate; and

a second plate separate from the first plate, wherein

the magnet apparatus is restrained from rotating beyond an initial amount within the body by the first and second plates.

13. The implantable medical device of claim 8, wherein:

the magnet apparatus comprises a magnet located in a container, wherein the magnet is free to revolve relative to the container;

the body is made of elastomeric material;

at least some of the elastomeric material of the body extends around a majority of a circumference of the container in face to face relationship with the circumference of the container; and

the implantable medical device resists rotation of the container relative to the body when the magnet is subjected to the externally generated magnetic field.

14. The implantable medical device of claim 8, wherein:

the body is made of silicone; and

at least some of the silicone of the silicone body extends around a majority of a circumference of the magnet apparatus in face to face relationship with the circumference of the magnet apparatus.

15. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a magnet; and

a body encompassing the magnet, wherein

the body has a slit configured to enable passage of the magnet therethrough, and

at least one of;

the slit is pre-existing;

or

the magnet has a width and height, wherein the height is less than the width and the slit is located away from the magnet on a side of the magnet in a direction of the width.

16. The implantable medical device of claim 15, wherein:

the magnet has the width and the height, wherein the height is less than the width; and

the slit is located away from the magnet on the side of the magnet in the direction of the width.

17. The implantable medical device of claim 15, wherein:

the slit includes two opposite surfaces, wherein the two opposite surfaces are level in a plane extending normal to a thickness direction of the magnet; and

the two opposite surfaces are smooth, and wherein the two opposite surfaces are in close proximity to one another.

18. The implantable medical device of claim 15, wherein:

outer dimensions of the body have a length, a width, and a height, wherein the height is measured through the magnet, wherein the height is a smallest dimension, and wherein the slit is located between points on two surfaces establishing a height dimension.

19. The implantable medical device of claim 15, further including:

a ramp structure embedded in the body, wherein

the body is a silicone body, and

the ramp structure is configured to guide the magnet, during removal thereof from the body, towards the slit.

20. The implantable medical device of claim 15, wherein:

the medical device includes an anti-rotation apparatus; and

the medical device includes a first surface and a second surface of the anti-rotation apparatus, wherein the magnet is located between the first surface and the second surface, and wherein a path exists from ends of the surfaces to the slit through which the magnet can travel to reach the slit.

21. The implantable medical device of claim 15, further including:

a ramp structure distinct from the body and embedded in the body, wherein

the ramp structure is configured to guide the magnet, during removal thereof from the body, towards the slit.

22. The implantable medical device of claim 15, wherein the slit is pre-existing.