Electromagnetized external device for dynamic reversible fusion of the shoulder
AssigneeUnited Arab Emirates University
InventorsAlya A. Arabi, Bassem T. Elhassan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dynamic reversible electromagnetic locking element for locking the shoulder joint of a patient, in particular, in the form of a shoulder orthosis or a shoulder prosthesis, and methods for implementing the same. The dynamic reversible electromagnetic locking element has a ball and socket configuration to assist in operation of a glenohumeral joint (GHJ) in the patient.
Claims19
A reversible electromagnetic locking element having a ball and socket configuration assisting operation of a glenohumeral joint (GHJ) in a patient, comprising:
- a ball adapted for implantation on a surface of a glenoid of a patient;
- an electromagnet;
- a microswitch;
- an energy source comprising a battery to power the electromagnet;
- and
- a socket with which the ball connects, the socket being adapted for implantation in a humerus of the patient, wherein one of the ball and the socket is made of a magnetic metal or has the magnetic metal affixed thereto and the electromagnet is located with the other of the ball and the socket;
- wherein the microswitch is adapted to selectively activate the electromagnet to exert an electromagnetic force between the ball and the socket such that the ball and the socket, once implanted in the patient to assist the glenohumeral joint of the patient, are locked via magnetism at a desired angular position about which an arm of the patient can freely move when in an on position and, when the microswitch is in an off position, deactivate the electromagnet to release the electromagnetic force between the ball and the socket, thereby unlocking the ball from the socket at the desired angular position about which the arm of the patient can freely move when the microswitch is in the on position.
A method for improving range of motion of a damaged shoulder joint in a patient, the method comprising:
- replacing a shoulder of the patient with a reversible electromagnetic locking element having a ball and socket configuration to assist operation of a glenohumeral joint (GHJ) in the patient, the reversible electromagnetic locking element comprising a ball, an electromagnet, a microswitch, and a socket with which the ball connects, wherein one of the ball and the socket is made of a magnetic metal or has the magnetic metal affixed thereto and the electromagnet is located with the other of the ball and the socket, wherein the ball is adapted to be implanted on a surface of a glenoid of the patient, and wherein the socket is adapted to be implanted in a humerus of the patient;
- providing an energy source comprising a battery to power the electromagnet;
- placing the glenohumeral joint at a desired angular position;
- selectively activating the electromagnet to exert an electromagnetic force between the ball and the socket such that the ball and the socket are locked via electromagnetism at a desired angular position about which an arm of the patient can freely move by switching the microswitch to an on position;
- and configured to selectively adjust the arm of the patient to lock in one of a desired plurality of angular positions
- selectively deactivating the electromagnet to release the electromagnetic force between the ball and the socket, thereby unlocking the ball from the socket by switching the microswitch to an off position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.