Surgically-implantable stepping motor
First Claim
1. Surgically-implantable apparatus such as a valve, pump, or pacemaker, said apparatus including a stepping motor for adjusting said apparatus, said stepping motor being isolated physically from electrical power sources and powered by the influence of an external magnetic field applied from outside the apparatus, said stepping motor comprisinga rotor,one or more stator elements,means for mounting said rotor so that it is capable of movement relative to said stator elements,said stator elements being composed of magnetically soft and permeable material shaped and positioned with respect to said rotor so that when magnetized under the influence of said external field the said stator elements strengthen and orient the magnetic field in their vicinities so as to cause incremental movement of said rotor,means for positioning said rotor with respect to said stator elements so that when said stator elements are magnetized under the influence of said external field incremental movement of said rotor occurs,wherein said apparatus is adapted to be surgically-implanted and said magnetic field is applied from outside the body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A stepping motor isolated physically from electrical power sources and powered by the influence of a magnetic field applied from outside the apparatus, the stepping motor including a rotor and one or more stator elements, the stator elements being composed of magnetically soft and permeable material shaped and positioned with respect to the rotor so that when magnetized under the influence of the external field the stator elements strengthen and orient the magnetic field in their vicinities so as to cause movement of the rotor.
194 Citations
18 Claims
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1. Surgically-implantable apparatus such as a valve, pump, or pacemaker, said apparatus including a stepping motor for adjusting said apparatus, said stepping motor being isolated physically from electrical power sources and powered by the influence of an external magnetic field applied from outside the apparatus, said stepping motor comprising
a rotor, one or more stator elements, means for mounting said rotor so that it is capable of movement relative to said stator elements, said stator elements being composed of magnetically soft and permeable material shaped and positioned with respect to said rotor so that when magnetized under the influence of said external field the said stator elements strengthen and orient the magnetic field in their vicinities so as to cause incremental movement of said rotor, means for positioning said rotor with respect to said stator elements so that when said stator elements are magnetized under the influence of said external field incremental movement of said rotor occurs, wherein said apparatus is adapted to be surgically-implanted and said magnetic field is applied from outside the body.
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14. The method of surgically implanting a device and later adjusting its operation from outside the body, comprising
surgically implanting a device having a stepping motor, said stepping motor being physically isolated from electrical power sources and comprising a rotor and one or more stator elements, said stator elements being composed of magnetically soft and permeable material shaped and positioned with respect to said rotor so that when magnetized the local magnetic fields in their vicinities cause rotation of said rotor, applying from outside the body a magnetic field so as to magnetize said stator elements to cause movement of said rotor.
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15. A stepping motor for producing incremental movement within a structure, said motor comprising
an external unit for placement outside said structure, said external unit comprising one or more members for generating a time-varying external magnetic field, an internal unit for placement inside said structure, said internal unit comprising a rotor, one or more stator elements each composed of a magnetically soft and permeable material, said stator elements being spaced from said rotor by a gap, means for mounting said rotor so that it is capable of movement relative to said stator elements, said stoator elements being shaped and positioned with respect to said rotor so that when magnetized under the influence of said external magnetic field said stator elements strengthen and orient the magnetic field in their vicinities so as to cause incremental rotation of said rotor, means for positioning said rotor with respect to said stator elements so that when said stator elements are magnetized under the influence of said external field incremental movement of said rotor occurs, said external and internal units being so constructed that said external unit may be positioned remotely from said internal unit during use, and said external and internal units being so constructed that in use the spacing of said field-generating members in said external unit from said stator elements is greater than said gap between said stator elements and said rotor.
Specification