Magneto-mechanical apparatus

• US 7,015,782 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2004
• Issued: 03/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GLT Acquisition Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sensys Medical, Inc. (Sensys Medical Limited)
• Inventors: Acosta, George M., Hazen, Kevin H., Abul-Haj, Roxanne, Kincaid, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrera, Ramon M.
• Application Number:
  US10/752,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20040239461A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 335205-207, 335/285, 335302-306, 310/90.5
• US Class Current: 335/306
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/00 Pumps characterised by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 9/02 the means being mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/49 within a body or fluid
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/34 using ratchet
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 36/0073 actuated by relative movement between two magnets

Abstract

A magnetic field based mechanical apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus is based on coupled attracting or opposing magnets in conjunction with the insertion or removal of a magnetic field modifier. In the preferred embodiment, two repelling magnets are drawn together with the insertion of a magnetic field modifier. The field modifier may be another magnet having an opposing pole. Removal of the field modifier returns the forces to their original states. This oscillating motion may be driven with a low energy and/or small power supply. The resulting motion of the opposing magnets can drive mechanical system such as a linear, gear, ratchet, or reciprocating drive.

Claims

1. A magnetic-mechanical apparatus, comprising:

a pair of magnets coupled by a magnetic field and separated by a distance;

a magnetic field modifier;

wherein said magnetic field modifier is movable between a first location and a second location;

wherein said second location is between said pair of magnets;

wherein said magnetic field between said pair of magnets is altered, resulting in displacement of at least one of said pair of magnets from a first position to a second position; and

wherein said displacement of at least one of said pair of magnets is used as a driving source.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pair of magnets includes any of:

permanent magnets; and

electromagnets.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pair of magnets are aligned having either common magnetic poles facing each other, or opposite magnetic poles facing each other.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said magnets is positionally limited to either said first position or said second position by the use of a stop.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said magnetic field modifier includes any of:

a magnetizable material;

a permanent magnet; and

an electromagnet.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mechanical apparatus comprises either a switch or a drive.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said magnetic field modifier is alternately moved from said first location to said second location such that said displacement of at least one of said magnets alternates between said first position and said second position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said displacement is mechanically coupled to drive at least one of:

a driving member;

a ratchet;

a gear; and

a drive.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said driving member is mechanically coupled to drive at least one of:

said ratchet;

said gear; and

said drive.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said displacement is physically limited by a guide.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said gear is coupled to a fluid delivery system.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said fluid delivery system is used to deliver any of:

a coupling agent; and

a drug.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said coupling agent comprises any of:

a fluorocarbon;

a chlorofluorcarbon; and

a fluid having minimal near-infrared absorbance.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a potential energy source connected to said fluid delivery system.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said potential energy source comprises at least one of:

a spring; and

a compressed gas.

16. A magnetic-mechanical apparatus, comprising:

a pair of magnets separated by a distance;

a magnetic field modifier; and

a first stop;

wherein said magnetic field modifier is movable between a first location and a second location;

wherein said second location is between said pair of magnets, resulting in modification of a magnetic field between said pair of magnets;

wherein said modified magnetic field displaces at least one of said pair of magnets from a first position to a second position; and

wherein said displacement of at least one of said pair of magnets is physically limited by said first stop.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said pair of magnets comprise any of:

permanent magnets; and

electromagnets.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said pair of magnets are aligned having any of:

common magnetic poles facing each other; and

opposite magnetic poles facing each other.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said magnetic field modifier comprise any of:

a magnetizable material;

a permanent magnet; and

an electromagnet.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a switch.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said at least one of said pair of magnets activates said switch by said displacement.

22. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

a second stop.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said magnetic field modifier is cyclically moved between said first location and said second location to cyclically alter said magnetic field between a first state and a second state;

wherein said altered magnetic field displaces at least one of said pair of magnets to cyclically move between said first position and said second position; and

wherein said second position of said at least one of said pair of magnets is physically limited by said second stop.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising at least one of:

a pawl;

a ratchet;

a gear; and

a drive.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said at least one of said pair of magnets is operatively connected to said pawl.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said pawl is used to drive at least one of:

said ratchet;

said gear; and

said drive.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a fluid delivery system.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said fluid delivery system is powered by at least one of:

said gear; and

said drive.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said fluid delivery system is used to deliver at least one of:

a fluorocarbon;

a chlorofluorocarbon; and

a coupling fluid.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein said coupling fluid has minimal absorption in the near-infrared spectrum.

31. A method of using a magneto-mechanical apparatus, comprising steps of:

providing a pair of magnets separated by a distance;

providing a magnetic field modifier;

moving said magnetic field modifier between a first position and a second position;

wherein said second position is between said pair of magnets;

wherein a magnetic field between said pair of magnets is altered between a first state and a second state;

wherein said altered magnetic field displaces at least one of said pair of magnets between a first location and a second location; and

using said displacement of said at least one of said pair of magnets.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said pair of magnets comprise any of:

permanent magnets; and

electromagnets.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein said magnetic field modifier comprises any of:

a magnetizable material;

a permanent magnet; and

an electromagnet.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein said step of using said displacement activates at least one of:

a switch; and

an electrical contact.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein said step of moving said magnetic field modifier further comprises the step of:

alternating a position of said magnetic field modifier between said first position and said second position to alternate said magnetic field between said pair of magnets between said first state and said second state;

wherein at least one of said pair of magnets alternates between said first location and said second location.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein at least one of said pair of magnets is mechanically coupled to at least one of:

a pawl;

a ratchet;

a gear; and

a drive.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said step of using said displacement comprises driving at least one of:

said ratchet;

said gear; and

said drive.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein said pawl is mechanically attached to said at least one of said pair of magnets.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said step of using said displacement comprises driving via said pawl at least one of:

said ratchet;

said gear; and

said drive.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein any of said ratchet, said gear, and said drive drives a fluid delivery system.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said fluid delivery system delivers any of:

a coupling fluid; and

a drug.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said coupling fluid comprises any of:

a fluorocarbon;

a chlorofluorocarbon; and

a fluid that enhances photon transport between a first medium and a second medium.

43. A method of using a magneto-mechanical apparatus, comprising steps of:

providing a pair of magnets separated by a distance having a magnetic field between said pair of magnets;

providing a magnetic field modifier;

cycling said magnetic field modifier between a first position and a second position, wherein said second position is between said pair of magnets, wherein said magnetic field alternates between a first state and a second state, and said first state and said second state result in cycling at least one of said pair of magnets between a first location and a second location.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein at least one of said pair of magnets is coupled to a drive member.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said step of cycling at least one of said pair of magnets results in repeatably moving said drive member.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein said step of repeatably moving said drive member results in repeatably moving any of:

a ratchet;

a gear; and

a drive.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein at least one of said pair of magnets is coupled to a fluid delivery system, said fluid delivery system being driven by at least one of said ratchet, said gear, and said drive.

48. An apparatus comprising:

a pair of magnet members being spaced apart from each other; and

a third member as a magnetic field modifier;

wherein when said third member is moved to a critical position relative to said pair of magnet members by either moving into or departing from a magnetic field between said pair of magnets, said magnetic field therebetween is altered to such an extent that at least one of said pair of magnet members is displaced between a first position and a second position;

wherein when said third member is removed from said critical position, a magnetic field therebetween is altered such that said at least one of said pair of magnet members returns to said first position; and

wherein said third member is cyclically moved to and removed from said critical position to cyclically alter said magnetic field to induce cyclic movement of said at least one of said pair of magnet members between said first and second positions.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein any of said pair of magnet members can be any of:

a permanent magnet; and

an electromagnet.

50. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein said pair of magnet members have like poles facing to each other.

51. The, apparatus of claim 50, wherein said first position is maintained by the repelling force between said pair of magnet members against a first fixed stop, and wherein said second position is maintained by the attracting force between said third member and said at least one of said pair of magnet members against a second fixed stop placed between said third member and said at least one of said pair of magnet members.

52. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein said pair of magnet members have opposite poles facing to each other.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein said first position is maintained by a pulling force of an elastic member attaching said at least one of said pair of magnet members to a first fixed stop, and wherein said second position is maintained by an attracting force between said third member and said at least one of said pair of magnet members against a second fixed stop placed between said third member and said at least one of said pair of magnet members.

54. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein said third member can be any of:

a permanent magnet;

an electromagnet; and

a piece of magnetizable metal.

55. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein said displaced at least one of said pair of magnet members is coupled to a switch.

56. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein said displaced at least one of said pair of magnet members is coupled to a drive.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein said drive is a linear ratchet.

58. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein said drive is a circular ratchet.

59. A magneto-mechanical switch, comprising:

a pair of magnet members having like poles facing to each other in a first position in which a repelling force between said pair of magnet members supports each of said pair of magnet members against a fixed stop; and

a third member comprising a magnetic field modifier;

wherein when said third member is moved to a critical position relative to said pair of magnet members, a magnetic field therebetween is altered to such an extent that said pair of magnet members are moved between said first position and a second position, said second position being maintained by an attracting force between said third member and each of said pair of magnet members against a fixed stop placed between said third member and each of said pair of magnet members;

wherein when said third member is removed from said critical position, said pair of magnet members return from said second position to said first position; and

wherein said third member is cyclically moved to and removed from said critical position said magnetic field is cyclically altered and induces cyclic movement between said pair of magnet members between said first and second positions.

60. A magneto-mechanical switch, comprising:

a pair of magnet members having opposite poles facing each other in a first position, wherein each of said pair of magnet members is pulled by an elastic member attached to a fixed stop to space said pair of magnet members apart from each other; and

a third member comprising a magnetic field modifier;

wherein when said third member is moved to a critical position relative to said pair of magnet members, a magnetic field therebetween is altered to such an extent that said pair of magnet members are moved between said first position and a second position, said second position being maintained by an attracting force between said third member and each of said pair of magnet members against a fixed stop placed between said third member and each of said pair of magnet members;

wherein when said third member is removed from said critical position, said pair of magnet members return from said second position to said first position; and

wherein said third member is cyclically moved to and removed from said critical position said magnetic field is cyclically altered and induces cyclic movement between said pair of magnet members between said first and second positions.

61. A magneto-mechanical drive, comprising:

a pair of magnet members having like poles facing each other, a first of which is fixed in position and a second of which is in a first position in which a repelling force between said pair of magnet members supports said second magnet member against a fixed stop, said second magnet member being coupled to a gear; and

a third member comprising a magnetic field modifier;

wherein when said third member is moved to a critical position relative to said pair of magnet members, a magnetic field therebetween is altered to such an extent that said second magnet member moves between said first position and a second positions said second position being maintained by attracting forces between said third member and each of said pair of magnet members against a fixed stop placed between said third member and said second magnet members;

wherein when said third member is removed from said critical position, said second magnet member returns from said second position to said first position;

wherein said third member is cyclically moved to and removed from said critical position said magnetic field is cyclically altered and induces cyclic movement between said second magnet member said first and second positions; and

wherein each cycle of operation of said third member approaching to and departing from said critical position moves said gear at least one notch.