Implantable, magnetic actuator

• US 20070255088A1
• Filed: 04/10/2007
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Andrew Jacobson, Jeff Sommers, Thomas Nolan
• Original Assignee: Andrew Jacobson, Jeff Sommers, Thomas Nolan
• Inventors: Sommers, Jeff, Jacobson, Andrew, Nolan, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US11/784,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20070255088A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile

Abstract

An implantable, magnetic actuator comprising a mechanical switch completely implanted within the human'"'"'s or animal'"'"'s body having at least one magnet; an external user component having at least one magnet which is used externally of the animal'"'"'s or human'"'"'s body to couple to the magnet of the mechanical switch; a connector that is connected at one end to the mechanical switch and at the opposite end may be connected to activation means that may be used to remotely actuate a mechanism, component or device that has been implanted completely within an animal'"'"'s or human'"'"'s body and is located distally from the implantable, magnetic actuator. The mechanical switch, connector and activation means are completely implanted within the human'"'"'s or animal'"'"'s body to overcome the risks and obstacles posed by exposed actuators.

Claims

1. An implantable, magnetic actuator comprising:

a mechanical switch;

a magnet attached to the mechanical switch;

an external user component which is used externally of the animal'"'"'s or human'"'"'s body to couple to the magnet to cause the mechanical switch to change positions; and

a connector that is connected to the mechanical switch at one end and at the opposite end to a mechanism, component, device or surrounding bodily tissue or body part which when the mechanical switch changes positions causes the connector to effect a force on such mechanism, component, device or surrounding bodily tissue.

2. An implantable, magnetic actuator of claim 1, wherein the mechanical switch is enclosed within housing.

3. An implantable, magnetic actuator of claim 2, wherein the connector has a sheath that is concentric to the connector and provides a protective barrier and passageway for the connector to pass.

4. An implantable, magnetic actuator of claim 1, wherein the mechanical switch has a locking mechanism to lock the position of the mechanical switch.

5. An implantable, magnetic actuator of claim 4, wherein the locking mechanism includes a spring connected to the connector.

6. An implantable, magnetic actuator of claim 1, wherein the mechanical switch is inverted where the “

deactivated” and

“

activated”

positions are reversed.

7. An implantable, magnetic actuator comprising:

a mechanical switch;

a magnet attached to the mechanical switch;

an external user component which is used externally of the animal'"'"'s or human'"'"'s body to couple to the magnet to cause the mechanical switch of the implantable, magnetic actuator to change positions;

a connector that is connected at one end to the mechanical switch; and

activation means, which connect to the connector, for actuating surrounding bodily tissue, intervening in or monitoring the body'"'"'s activities, or actuating a device that actuates surrounding bodily tissue or intervenes in or monitors the body'"'"'s activities.

8. An implantable, magnetic actuator of claim 7, wherein the mechanical switch is enclosed within housing.

9. An implantable, magnetic actuator of claim 8, wherein the connector has a sheath that is concentric to the connector and provides a protective barrier and passageway for the connector to pass.

10. An implantable, magnetic actuator of claim 7, wherein the mechanical switch has a locking mechanism to lock the position of the mechanical switch.

11. An implantable, magnetic actuator of claim 10, wherein the locking mechanism inclues a spring connected to the connector.

12. An implantable, magnetic actuator of claim 7, wherein the mechanical switch is inverted where the “

deactivated” and

“

activated”

positions are reversed.