SYSTEMS AND DEVICES HAVING HYDROMAGNETIC JOINTS AND HYDROMAGNETIC SPRINGS

• US 20110257754A1
• Filed: 02/21/2011
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roar Labs, LLC
• Original Assignee: Fleischmann's Institute of Science & Health
• Inventors: Fleischmann, David T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,454,692 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/18.12
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0054 provided with magnets, magnetic parts or magnetic substances
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/181 Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/187 Resiliency achieved by the features of the material, e.g. foam, non liquid materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30 Joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/32 for the hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/38 for elbows or knees
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3836 Special connection between upper and lower leg, e.g. constrained
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/441 made of inflatable pockets or chambers filled with fluid, e.g. with hydrogel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/484 Fluid means, i.e. hydraulic or pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30079 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30563 having elastic means or damping means, different from springs, e.g. including an elastomeric core or shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30581 having a pocket filled with fluid, e.g. liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/416 Ball or spherical joints
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/005 Ball joints B60G7/006 takes precedence; for steering linkage B62D7/16; ball joints per se F16C11/06
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 32/0402 combined with other supporting means, e.g. hybrid bearings with both magnetic and fluid supporting means
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 39/066 with opposing permanent magnets repelling each other

Abstract

A hydromagnetic joint includes a first joint part having a first magnetic element with a magnetically charged surface, and a first buoyant element coupled with the first magnetic element, and a second joint part including a second magnetic element having a second magnetically charged surface that opposes the first magnetically charged surface of the first magnetic element, and a second buoyant element coupled with the second magnetic element. The hydromagnetic joint has a liquid disposed between the first and second joint parts. The first and second joint parts are moveable relative to one another and are in fluid communication with the liquid. The first and second magnetically charged surfaces have a common polarity and repel one another.

Claims

1. A hydromagnetic joint comprising:

a first joint part including a first magnetic element having a magnetically charged surface, and a first buoyant element coupled with said first magnetic element;

a second joint part including a second magnetic element having a second magnetically charged surface that opposes said first magnetically charged surface of said first magnetic element, and a second buoyant element coupled with said second magnetic element;

a liquid disposed between said first and second joint parts, wherein said first and second joint parts are moveable relative to one another and are in fluid communication with said liquid.

2. The hydromagnetic joint as claimed in claim 1, wherein said liquid is contained within an enclosure that is disposed between said first and second joint parts.

3. The hydromagnetic joint as claimed in claim 2, wherein said enclosure for said liquid is flexible.

4. The hydromagnetic joint as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second joint parts comprises a solid body having at least one aperture extending therethrough adapted for enabling said liquid to pass through said at least one aperture.

5. The hydromagnetic joint as claimed in claim 4, wherein said at least one aperture comprises a plurality of apertures.

6. The hydromagnetic joint as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second joint parts are moveable relative to one another.

7. The hydromagnetic joint as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first and second joint parts are aligned with one another along an axis and are moveable relative to one another along the axis.

8. The hydromagnetic joint as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second joint parts are adapted to move toward one another for compressing said liquid therebetween.

9. The hydromagnetic joint as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second magnetically charged surfaces have the same polarity and are adapted to repel one another.

10. The hydromagnetic joint as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a medical implant device containing said hydromagnetic joint.

11. The hydromagnetic joint as claimed in claim 10, wherein said medical implant device is selected from the group consisting of knee implants, hip implants, bone implants, and intervertebral implants.

12. The hydromagnetic joint as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a first anchoring element coupled with said first joint part for anchoring said first joint part to a first object; and

a second anchoring element coupled with said second joint part for anchoring said second joint part to a second object.

13. The hydromagnetic joint as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a balance board containing said hydromagnetic joint.

14. A medical implant comprising:

a first part including a first magnetic element having a magnetically charged surface and a first buoyant element coupled with said first magnetic element;

a second part including a second magnetic element having a second magnetically charged surface that opposes said first magnetically charged surface of said first magnetic element and a second buoyant element coupled with said second magnetic element; and

a liquid body disposed between said first and second parts, wherein said first and second parts are in fluid communication with said liquid body and are adapted to move relative to one another.

15. The medical implant as claimed in claim 14, wherein said first and second magnetically charged surfaces have a common polarity so that said first and second magnetically charged surfaces repel one another.

16. The medical implant as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

a first anchoring element coupled with said first part of said implant for attaching said first part to a first bone; and

a second anchoring element coupled with said second part of said implant for attaching said second part to a second bone.

17. The medical implant as claimed in claim 14, further comprising an enclosure extending between said first and second parts for containing said liquid body.

18. The medical implant as claimed in claim 17, wherein said enclosure is flexible for changing shape as said first and second parts move relative to one another.

19. The medical implant as claimed in claim 14, wherein said medical implant device is selected from the group consisting of knee implants, hip implants, bone implants, and intervertebral implants.

20. A balance board for providing balancing therapy comprising:

a first part including a first buoyant element, and a first magnetic element attached to said first buoyant element, said first magnetic element having a first magnetically charged surface;

a second part including a second buoyant element, and a second magnetic element attached to said second buoyant element, said second magnetic element having a second magnetically charged surface that opposes and repels said first magnetically charged surface; and

a liquid body contained between said first and second parts, wherein said first and second parts are in fluid communication with said liquid body and are adapted to move relative to one another.