Correlated magnetic prosthetic device and method for using the correlated magnetic prosthetic device

• US 7,817,004 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2009
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Correlated Magnetics Research, LLC
• Original Assignee: Cedar Ridge Research LLC
• Inventors: Fullerton, Larry W., Roberts, Mark D., Thompson, Herman M., Thompson, JR., Herman M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrera, Ramon M
• Application Number:
  US12/494,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20090292371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 335/285, 335302-306, 243/03, 623 27- 65
• US Class Current: 335/306
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0081 Magnetic dental implant retention systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/50 Prostheses not implantable in the body closure means for urethra or rectum or for artificial body openings therefor A61F2/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/585 Wrist joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/64 Knee joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/78 Means for protecting prostheses or for attaching them to the body, e.g. bandages, harnesses, straps, or stockings for the limb stump
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/543 Lower arms or forearms
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/608 Upper legs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6863 magnetic magnetic prosthetic parts A61F2002/30079
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/704 computer-controlled, e.g. robotic control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/009 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 18/00 Testing or calibrating apparatus or arrangements provided for in groups G01D1/00 - G01D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0215 Flexible forms, sheets
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0263 Closures, bags, bands, engagement devices with male and female parts

Abstract

A prosthetic device is described herein that incorporates correlated magnets which enable an artificial prosthesis (e.g., artificial limb) to be easily and effectively attached to and removed from an interface that is secured to a residual limb on a person. In addition, a method is described herein for enabling a person to attach and remove an artificial prosthesis to and from an interface that is secured to a residual limb on the person.

Claims

1. A prosthetic device to be used by a person, said prosthetic device comprising:

an interface including a first field emission structure, where the interface is secured to a residual limb on the person; and

an artificial prosthesis including a second field emission structure, where the artificial prosthesis is attached to the interface when the first and second field emission structures are located next to one another and have a certain alignment with respect to one another, where each of the first and second field emission structures include field emission sources having positions and polarities relating to a desired spatial force function that corresponds to a relative alignment of the first and second field emission structures within a field domain, said spatial force function being in accordance with a code, said code corresponding to a code modulo of said first plurality of field emission sources and a complementary code modulo of said second plurality of field emission sources, said code defining a peak spatial force corresponding to substantial alignment of said code modulo of said first plurality of field emission sources with said complementary code modulo of said second plurality of field emission sources, said code also defining a plurality of off peak spatial forces corresponding to a plurality of different misalignments of said code modulo of said first plurality of field emission sources and said complementary code modulo of said second plurality of field emission sources, said plurality of off peak spatial forces having a largest off peak spatial force, said largest off peak spatial force being less than half of said peak spatial force.

2. The prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein the artificial prosthesis is released from the interface when the first and second field emission structures are turned with respect to one another so the person is able to remove the artificial prosthesis.

3. The prosthetic device of claim 1, further includes a release mechanism which is used to turn the first and second field emission structures relative to one another to release the artificial prosthesis from the interface so the person is able to remove the artificial prosthesis.

4. The prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein the artificial prosthesis further includes:

a coupling device including a third field emission structure; and

a living aid device including a fourth field emission structure, where the living aid device is attached to the coupling device when the third and fourth field emission structures are located next to one another and have a certain alignment with respect to one another, where each of the third and fourth field emission structures include field emission sources having positions and polarities relating to another desired spatial force function that corresponds to a relative alignment of the third and fourth field emission structures within another field domain.

5. The prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein the interface is one or more keepers that are attached to the residual limb on the person.

6. The prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein the interface is a prosthetic liner that covers at least a portion of the residual limb on the person.

7. The prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein the artificial prosthesis includes an artificial foot, an artificial leg, an artificial hand, an artificial arm, an artificial tooth, or an artificial denture.

8. The prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein said positions and said polarities of each of said field emission sources are determined in accordance with at least one correlation function.

9. The prosthetic device of claim 8, wherein said at least one correlation function is in accordance with at least one code.

10. The prosthetic device of claim 9, wherein said at least one code is at least one of a pseudorandom code, a deterministic code, or a designed code.

11. The prosthetic device of claim 9, wherein said at least one code is one of a one dimensional code, a two dimensional code, a three dimensional code, or a four dimensional code.

12. The prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein each of said field emission sources has a corresponding field emission amplitude and vector direction determined in accordance with the desired spatial force function, wherein a separation distance between the first and second field emission structures and the relative alignment of the first and second field emission structures creates a spatial force in accordance with the desired spatial force function.

13. The prosthetic device of claim 12, wherein said spatial force include at least one of an attractive spatial force or a repellant spatial force.

14. The prosthetic device of claim 12, wherein said spatial force corresponds to a peak spatial force of said desired spatial force function when said first and second field emission structures are substantially aligned such that each field emission source of said first field emission structure substantially aligns with a corresponding field emission source of said second field emission structure.

15. The prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein said field domain corresponds to first field emissions from said field emission sources of said first field emission structure interacting with second field emissions from said second field emission sources of said second field emission structure.

16. The prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein said polarities of the field emission sources include at least one of North-South polarities or positive-negative polarities.

17. The prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein at least one of said field emission sources includes a magnetic field emission source or an electric field emission source.

18. The prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein at least one of said field emission sources include a permanent magnet, an electromagnet, an electret, a magnetized ferromagnetic material, a portion of a magnetized ferromagnetic material, a soft magnetic material, or a superconductive magnetic material.

19. A method for enabling a person to attach and remove an artificial prosthesis to and from an interface that is secured to a residual limb on the person, said method comprising the steps of:

securing the interface which includes a first field emission structure to the residual limb;

moving the artificial prosthesis which includes a second field emission structure towards the interface; and

aligning the first and second field emission structures so the artificial prosthesis attaches to the interface when the first and second field emission structures are located next to one another and have a certain alignment with respect to one another, where each of the first and second field emission structures include field emission sources having positions and polarities relating to a desired spatial force function that corresponds to a relative alignment of the first and second field emission structures within a field domain, said spatial force function being in accordance with a code, said code corresponding to a code modulo of said first plurality of field emission sources and a complementary code modulo of said second plurality of field emission sources, said code defining a peak spatial force corresponding to substantial alignment of said code modulo of said first plurality of field emission sources with said complementary code modulo of said second plurality of field emission sources, said code also defining a plurality of off peak spatial forces corresponding to a plurality of different misalignments of said code modulo of said first plurality of field emission sources and said complementary code modulo of said second plurality of field emission sources, said plurality of off peak spatial forces having a largest off peak spatial force, said largest off peak spatial force being less than half of said peak spatial force.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising a step of turning the first and second emission structures relative to another so the person is able to remove the artificial prosthesis.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the artificial prosthesis further includes:

a coupling device including a third field emission structure; and

a living aid device including a fourth field emission structure, where the living aid device is attached to the coupling device when the third and fourth field emission structures are located next to one another and have a certain alignment with respect to one another, where each of the third and fourth field emission structures include field emission sources having positions and polarities relating to another desired spatial force function that corresponds to a relative alignment of the third and fourth field emission structures within another field domain.