Magnetically shielded conductor

• US 6,930,242 B1
• Filed: 03/04/2002
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Biophan Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nanoset LLC
• Inventors: Helfer, Jeffrey L., Wang, Xingwu
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau N.
• Application Number:
  US10/090,553
• Time in Patent Office: 1,261 Days
• Field of Search: 174/36, 174/120.SC, 174/113.R, 174/102.SC, 333/12, 333/243
• US Class Current: 174/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/086 Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] compatible leads
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3718 Monitoring of or protection against external electromagnetic fields or currents
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 25/00 Nanomagnetism, e.g. magnetoimpedance, anisotropic magnetoresistance, giant magnetoresistance or tunneling magnetoresistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/10 Screens specially adapted for reducing interference from external sources
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/1083 the coating containing magnetic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 1/0063 in a non-magnetic matrix, e.g. granular solids granular films H01F10/007
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 10/007 ultrathin or granular films H01F10/005 and H01F10/3227 take precedence; applying ultrathin or granular layers to substrates H01F41/301
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 10/324 Exchange coupling of magnetic film pairs via a very thin non-magnetic spacer, e.g. by exchange with conduction electrons of the spacer

Abstract

A conductor assembly that contains a flexible conductor and a layer of nanomagnetic material coated onto the conductor. The layer of nanomagnetic material has a tensile modulus of elasticity of at least about 15×10⁶ pounds per square inch, an average particle size of less than 100 nanometers, a saturation magnetization of from about 200 to about 26,000 Gauss, and a thickness of less than about 2 microns.

Claims

1. A conductor assembly comprised of a first flexible conductor and a first layer of nanomagnetic material disposed around said first flexible conductor, wherein:

(a) said first layer of nanomagnetic material has a tensile modulus of elasticity of at least about 15×

10⁶ pounds per square inch;

(b) said nanomagnetic material has an average particle size of less than 100 nanometers; and

(c) said first layer of nanomagnetic material has a saturation magnetization of at least about 20,000 Gauss and a thickness of less than about 2 microns.

2. The conductor assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said conductor assembly is flexible, having a bend radius of less than 2 centimeters.

3. The conductor assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said first layer of nanomagnetic material has a saturation magnetization of at least 24,000 Gauss.

4. The conductor assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein said conductor assembly is comprised of 7 flexible conductors, each of which has a layer of said nanomagnetic material disposed around it.

5. The conductor assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein a biocompatible sheath is disposed around said first flexible conductor and said first layer of nanomagnetic material.

6. The conductor assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein a second layer of nanomagnetic material is disposed around said biocompatible sheath.

7. The conductor assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein said first flexible conductor is a modfilar conductor.

8. The conductor assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein said first flexible conductor is a multifilar conductor.

9. The conductor assembly as recited in claim 8, further comprising a second flexible monofilar conductor.

10. The conductor assembly as recited in claim 9 wherein said multifilar conductor is disposed outside of said monfilar conductor.

11. The conductor assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein said first flexible conductor is coated with said first layer of nanomagnetic material.

12. The conductor assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein said coating of said first layer of nanomagnetic material on said first flexible conductor is continuous.

13. The conductor assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein said coating of said first layer of nanomagnetic material on said first flexible conductor is discontinuous.

14. The conductor assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein said coating of said first layer of nanomagnetic material on said first flexible conductor is discontinuous along the axial dimension of said first flexible conductor.

15. The conductor assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein said multifilar conductor is disposed inside of said monofilar conductor.

16. The conductor assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said conductor assembly further comprises a centrally disposed pacing lead.

17. The conductor assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a catheter connected to said first flexible conductor.

18. The conductor assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising an electrode connected to said first flexible conductor.

19. The conductor assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising electric circuitry connected to said first flexible conductor.

20. The conductor assembly as recited in claim 19, further comprising a second layer of nanomagnetic material disposed around said electric circuitry.