US4726378A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustable magnetic supercutaneous device and transcutaneous coupling apparatus
Assignee: Cochlear Corp
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Filing: 1986-04-11
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Granted: 1988-02-23
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Expires: 2006-04-11
Abstract
Abstract An externally worn body device adapted to be magnetically held supercutaneously with a case being separable into first and second parts and being releasably secured together. The case contains a magnetic device for magnetically holding the case in a supercutaneous position with the magnetic field strength at the surface of the case adjacent to the supercutaneous position being adjustable. The magnetic device may also be adjustable in magnetic polarity. The externally worn body device may contain a transmitting coil positioned within the case for transmitting an electrical signal intended for transcutaneous reception. The externally worn body device may be combined with an implanted subcutaneous member which contains a magnetic device for providing an appropriate magnetic attraction to the corresponding supercutaneous magnetic device. The subcutaneous member may contain a receiving coil designed to cooperate with the transmitting coil of the externally worn body device for the reception of the transcutaneous electrical signals.
Inventors
- 👤 Morton R. Kaplan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 23:54
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/36; A61N1/36036; A61N1/372; A61N1/37211; A61F; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0001; A61F2250/0002; A61N1/36038; A61N1/378; A61N1/3787
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
An externally worn body device adapted to be magnetically held in a supercutaneous position in lateral alignment with a subcutaneous first magnetic element, comprising: a case being separable into a first part and a second part; securing means operably coupled to said case for releasably securing said first part and said second part of said case together; and a second magnetic element contained within said case when said first part and said second part of said case are secured together, said second magnetic element holding said externally worn body device in a supercutaneous position proximate to said subcutaneous first magnetic element, holding said externally worn body device in lateral alignment with said subcutaneous first magnetic element, being axially aligned with said subcutaneous first magnetic element and providing a direct axial magnetic attraction to said subcutaneous first magnetic element; and said second magnetic element being adjustable in magnetic field strength at a surface of said case adjacent said supercutaneous position for changing the magnetic field strength attraction between said second magnetic element and said subcutaneous first magnetic element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
An externally worn body device adapted to be magnetically held in a supercutaneous position in lateral alignment with a subcutaneous first magnetic element, comprising: a case being separable into a first part and a second part; securing means operably coupled to said case for releasably securing said first part and said second part of said case together; and a second magnetic element contained within said case when said first part and said second part of said case are secured together, said second magnetic element holding said externally worn body device in a supercutaneous position proximate to said subcutaneous first magnetic element, holding said externally worn body device in lateral alignment with said subcutaneous first magnetic element, being axially aligned with said subcutaneous first magnetic element and providing a direct axial magnetic attraction to said subcutaneous first magnetic element; and said second magnetic element being adjustable in magnetic field strength at a surface of said case adjacent said supercutaneous position for changing the magnetic field strength attraction between said second magnetic element and said subcutaneous first magnetic element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
An externally worn body device as in claim 1 wherein said second magnetic element is also reversible in magnetic polarity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An externally worn body device as in claim 2 which further comprises transmitting means positioned within said case for transmitting an electrical signal intended for transcutaneous reception.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
An externally worn body device as in claim 1 wherein said second magnetic element comprises at least one permanent magnetic module which may be replaced as an adjustment in magnetic field strength is required.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
An externally worn body device as in claim 1 wherein said case, when said first part and said second part are secured together, has a cavity for holding said second magnetic element, wherein said second magnetic element comprises at least one permanent magnetic module, and wherein said externally worn body device further comprises at least one spacer positioned within said cavity between said magnetic module and said surface of said case adjacent said supercutaneous position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
An externally worn body device as in claim 5 which further comprises a resilient insert positioned within said cavity disposed with respect to said magnetic module opposite from said surface of said case adjacent said supercutaneous position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
An externally worn body device as in claim 6 which further comprises transmitting means positioned within said case for transmitting an electrical signal intended for transcutaneous reception.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
An externally worn body device as in claim 7 wherein said transmitting means comprises an electrically conductive coil having a hollow core.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
An externally worn body device as in claim 8 wherein said cavity is formed by said hollow core of said electrically conductive core.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
An externally worn body device as in claim 5 wherein said magnetic module is a rare earth magnet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
183 words
A transcutaneous coupling apparatus, comprising: a first member adapted to be positioned subcutaneously; a first magnetic means positioned within said first member for providing an appropriate magnetic attraction to a corresponding supercutaneous magnetic member; a second member positioned supercutaneously; said second member having a case being separable into a first part and a second part, securing means operably coupled to said case for releasably securing said first part and said second part of said case together; a second magnetic element contained within said case when first part and said second part of said case are secured together, said second magnetic element holding said second member in a supercutaneous position proximate to said first member, holding said second member in lateral alignment with said first magnetic means, being axially aligned with said first magnetic means and providing direct axial magnetic attraction to said first magnetic means; and said second magnetic element being adjustable and magnetic field strength at a surface of said case adjacent said supercutaneous position for changing the magnetic field strength attraction between said second magnetic element and said first magnetic means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
183 words
A transcutaneous coupling apparatus, comprising: a first member adapted to be positioned subcutaneously; a first magnetic means positioned within said first member for providing an appropriate magnetic attraction to a corresponding supercutaneous magnetic member; a second member positioned supercutaneously; said second member having a case being separable into a first part and a second part, securing means operably coupled to said case for releasably securing said first part and said second part of said case together; a second magnetic element contained within said case when first part and said second part of said case are secured together, said second magnetic element holding said second member in a supercutaneous position proximate to said first member, holding said second member in lateral alignment with said first magnetic means, being axially aligned with said first magnetic means and providing direct axial magnetic attraction to said first magnetic means; and said second magnetic element being adjustable and magnetic field strength at a surface of said case adjacent said supercutaneous position for changing the magnetic field strength attraction between said second magnetic element and said first magnetic means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A transcutaneous coupling apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said second magnetic element is also reversible in magnetic polarity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
A transcutaneous coupling apparatus as in claim 12 in which said second member further comprises transmitting means positioned within said case for transmitting an electrical signal intended for transcutaneous reception and in which said first member further comprises receiving means positioned within said first member for receiving said electrical signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A transcutaneous coupling apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said second magnetic means comprises at least one permanent magnetic module which may be replaced as an adjustment in magnetic field strength is required.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
72 words
A transcutaneous coupling apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said case, when said first part and said second part are secured together, has a cavity for holding said second magnetic element, wherein said second magnetic element comprises at least one permanent magnetic module, and wherein said second member further comprises at least one spacer positioned within said cavity between said magnetic module and said surface of said case adjacent said supercutaneous position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
A transcutaneous coupling apparatus as in claim 15 wherein said second member further comprises a resilient insert positioned within said cavity disposed with respect to said magnetic module opposite from said surface of said case adjacent said supercutaneous position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
50 words
A transcutaneous coupling apparatus as in claim 16 in which said second member further comprises transmitting means positioned within said case for transmitting an electrical signal intended for transcutaneous reception and in which said first member further comprises receiving means positioned within said first member for receiving said electrical signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A transcutaneous coupling apparatus as in claim 17 wherein said transmitting means comprises an electrically conductive coil having a hollow core.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A transcutaneous coupling apparatus as in claim 18 wherein said cavity is formed by said hollow core of said electrically conductive core.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
A transcutaneous coupling apparatus as in claim 15 wherein said magnetic module is a rare earth magnet.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3952726A
Cited
US4352960A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-02-22 | 1991-08-24 | 1992-02-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-02-22 | 1995-08-24 | 1996-02-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-02-22 | 1999-08-24 | 2000-02-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |