MRI-safe electro-magnetic tranducer

• US 8,013,699 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2009
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Med El Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH
• Original Assignee: Med El Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH
• Inventors: Zimmerling, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai; Anh T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rojas; Bernard
• Application Number:
  US12/348,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20090134721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 335229-234, 335302-306, 335205-207, 335/296, 73488-551, 73570-672, 600/12, 600/25, 607 55- 75
• US Class Current: 335/296
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/045 using vibrating magnet, armature or coil system
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 36/0073 actuated by relative movement between two magnets
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 33/16 with polarised armatures moving in alternate directions by reversal or energisation of a single coil system
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/02 with moving magnets and stationary coil systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/606 acting directly on the eardrum, the ossicles or the skull, e.g. mastoid, tooth, maxillary or mandibular bone, or mechanically stimulating the cochlea, e.g. at the oval window

Abstract

An electro-magnetic transducer includes a housing. At least one coil is associated with the housing. A spherical magnet within the housing is capable of turning in any direction and of moving along an axis. A first keeper and a second keeper are positioned on opposite sides of the magnet, both the first keeper and the second keeper including magnetically soft material and free to move along the axis. A first biasing member holds the first keeper along the axis, and a second biasing element that holds the second keeper along the axis. The first keeper and the second keeper are attracted by magnetic poles of the magnet in the absence of an external magnetic field, such that opposing magnetic poles of the magnet are aligned parallel to the axis. Alternating current flowing through the at least one coil causes a vibration of the magnet, the vibration transferred to the housing.

Claims

1. An electro-magnetic transducer comprising:

a housing;

at least one coil associated with the housing;

a spherical magnet within the housing, the magnet substantially restricted within the housing to rotation in any direction and movement along an axis;

a first keeper and a second keeper positioned adjacent to, and on opposite sides of the magnet, both the first keeper and the second keeper capable of moving within the housing along the axis and including magnetically soft material.

2. The electro-magnetic transducer according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first biasing element positioned between the first keeper and the housing, and a second biasing element positioned between the second keeper and the housing, the biasing elements for biasing movement of the spherical magnet.

3. The electro-magnetic transducer according to claim 2, wherein the first biasing element holds the first keeper substantially centered on the axis, and wherein the second biasing element holds the second keeper substantially centered on the axis.

4. The electro-magnetic transducer according to claim 2, wherein the first biasing member and/or the second biasing member is at least one of elastic, flexible and resilient.

5. The electro-magnetic transducer according to claim 2, wherein the first biasing member and the second biasing member prevent the magnet from directly contacting the housing.

6. The electro-magnetic transducer according to claim 1, wherein the transducer is substantially free of torque in the presence of an external magnetic field.

7. The electro-magnetic transducer according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the spherical magnet and an inner wall of the housing are coated with a material having a low coefficient of friction.

8. The electro-magnetic transducer according to claim 7, wherein the material is Teflon.

9. The electro-magnetic transducer according to claim 1, wherein the at least one coil includes a plurality of coils, and wherein the induced voltage of the plurality of coils arising from an external RF field is zero.

10. The electro-magnetic transducer according to claim 9, wherein the at least one coil includes a first and second outer coil, and a middle coil positioned between the first and second outer coils, wherein the middle coil is winded in a direction opposite the two outer coils, and wherein the number of loops of the middle coil equals the sum of loops of the first and second outer coils.

11. The electro-magnetic transducer according to claim 1, wherein a vibration in the housing causes vibration in the magnets so as to cause a current in the at least one coil.

12. The electro-magnetic transducer according to claim 1, wherein alternating current flowing through the at least one coil causes a vibration of the magnet, the vibration transferred to the housing.

13. The electro-magnetic transducer according to claim 1, wherein the first keeper and the second keeper are attracted by magnetic poles of the magnet in the absence of an external magnetic field, such that opposing magnetic poles of the magnet are aligned parallel to the axis.

14. An electro-magnetic transducer comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of coils associated with the housing;

the plurality of coils including a first and second outer coil, and a middle coil positioned between the first and second outer coils, wherein the middle coil is winded in a direction opposite the two outer coils, and wherein the number of loops of the middle coil equals the sum of loops of the first and second outer coils, wherein the induced voltage of the plurality of coils arising from an external RF field is zero;

a spherical magnet within the housing, the magnet substantially restricted to rotation in any direction and movement along an axis; and

a first keeper and a second keeper positioned on opposite sides of the magnet, both the first keeper and the second keeper including magnetically soft material.