Efficient magnet system for magnetically-assisted surgery

An improved method of controlling an element within a patient's body which is responsive to a magnetic field through the controlled application of magnetic fields, the improvement comprising successively applying at least two different magnetic fields in which the angle between the magnetic field direction and the gradient are different.

A method of controlling an element within the human body which is responsive to an applied magnetic field, the method comprising applying a series of magnetic fields including fields in which the magnetic gradient is negligible for orienting the element along the field direction and fields in which the magnetic gradient is non-negligible and oblique to the magnetic field direction for pulling the element in a direction different from the orientation of the element.

A method of controlling an element with the human body which is responsive to an applied magnetic field, the method comprising applying a series of magnetic fields to control the element including fields in which the direction and strength of the magnetic gradient is negligible for orienting the element along the field direction and fields in which the magnetic gradient is non-negligible and oblique to the magnetic field direction for pulling the element in a direction different from the orientation of the element.

A device for magnetically assisted surgery of a patient comprising:

• a magnet support structure;
• a magnet having at least four poles, the magnet attached to the magnet support structure so that the magnet provides a near-field magnetic field in an operating region within a patient, the magnet being moveable to alter a direction of magnetic field lines in the operating region within the patient.

A compound magnet having a front face and comprising a plurality of segments, the segments each magnetized to provide the maximum magnetic field in a selected direction at a selected operating point spaced from the front face of the magnet.

A magnet having a front and a back face and comprising a plurality of segments, the segments each magnetized to provide substantially the maximum magnetic field in a selected direction at an operating point spaced from the front face, the back face being substantially contoured to follows a surface of constant contribution to magnetic field in the selected direction at the operating point.

A magnet for applying magnetic field in a selected direction at a selected operating point, the magnet comprising a front face generally facing the operating point, and a back face facing away from the operating point, the back face generally conforming to a constant contribution surface of the magnetic field in the selected direction.

A magnet for applying a magnetic field in a selected direction at a selected operating point, the magnet having a generally flat front face facing the operating point, a curved back face facing away from the operating point, the magnet comprising a plurality of segments, each of which is magnetized in the direction that, at the center of mass of the segment, provides the maximum contribution to the magnetic field in the selected direction at the selected operating point.