Systems and devices having hydromagnetic joints and hydromagnetic springs

• US 8,454,692 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2011
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Roar Labs, LLC
• Original Assignee: F.I.S.H., LLC
• Inventors: Fleischmann, David T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sweet, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEWART, JASON-DENNIS NEILKEN
• Application Number:
  US13/031,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20110257754A1
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 623 1611- 1716, 623/11.11
• US Class Current: 623/16.11
• 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 first magnetically charged surface, and a first buoyant element coupled with said first magnetic element, wherein said first buoyant element overlies a surface of said first magnetic element that is opposite said first magnetically charged surface;

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, wherein said second buoyant element overlies a surface of said second magnetic element that is opposite said second magnetically charged surface;

a liquid disposed between said first and second joint parts, wherein said liquid is disposed between said first and second magnetic elements which, in turn, are disposed between said first and second buoyant elements, respectively, and 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. A medical implant comprising:

a first part including a first magnetic element having a first magnetically charged surface and a first buoyant element coupled with said first magnetic element, wherein said first buoyant element overlies a surface of said first magnetic element that is opposite said first magnetically charged surface;

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, wherein said second buoyant element overlies a surface of said second magnetic element that is opposite said second magnetically charged surface; and

a liquid body disposed between said first and second parts, wherein said liquid is disposed between said first and second magnetic elements which, in turn, are disposed between said first and second buoyant elements, respectively, and wherein said first and second parts are in fluid communication with said liquid body and are adapted to move relative to one another.

14. The medical implant as claimed in claim 13, wherein said first and second magnetically charged surfaces have a common polarity so that said first and second magnetically charged surfaces repel one another.

15. The medical implant as claimed in claim 13, 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.

16. The medical implant as claimed in claim 13, further comprising an enclosure extending between said first and second parts for containing said liquid body.

17. The medical implant as claimed in claim 16, wherein said enclosure is flexible for changing shape as said first and second parts move relative to one another.

18. The medical implant as claimed in claim 13, wherein said medical implant device is selected from the group consisting of knee implants, hip implants, bone implants, and intervertebral implants.

19. A hydromagnetic joint comprising:

a first joint part including

a first buoyant element having a top surface and a bottom surface,

a first magnetic element having a negatively charged top surface and a positively charged bottom surface, wherein said bottom surface of said first buoyant element overlies and is coupled with said negatively charged top surface of said first magnetic element;

a second joint part including

a second buoyant element having a top surface and a bottom surface,

a second magnetic element having a positively charged top surface and a negatively charged bottom surface, wherein said top surface of said second buoyant element overlies and is coupled with said negatively charged bottom surface of said second magnetic element, and wherein said positively charged top surface of said second magnetic element opposes said positively charged bottom surface of said first magnetic element; and

a liquid disposed between said positively charged bottom surface of said first magnetic element and said positively charged top surface of said second magnetic element, wherein said first and second joint parts are moveable relative to one another and are in fluid communication with said liquid.