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US 4,340,038 AGranted
Magnetic field concentration means and method for an implanted device
AssigneePacesetter Systems, Inc.
InventorBrian D. McKean
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AssigneePacesetter Systems, Inc.
InventorBrian D. McKean
Estimating the term…
A magnetic field concentration means and method for use in conjunction with an implanted device responsive to an externally generated magnetic field. More specifically, a magnetic field concentrator is disclosed which includes a metallic slug located between a magnetic field generator and a magnetic pick-up coil contained in the implanted device. The metallic slug concentrates magnetic lines of flux at the pick-up coil. In a specific embodiment, the implanted device is an intracranial pressure monitoring device (ICPM) which is located within an orifice formed in a recipient's skull. The magnetic field concentrator is positioned within the orifice and directly above the ICPM, thereby concentrating magnetic flux lines at the ICPM. Two configurations of the slug are disclosed, one being in the form of a cylinder and the other being in the form of a truncated cone. In another application of the concentrator, a bandage or other suitable holding means positions the slug externally to the implanted device, thereby again concentrating magnetic lines of flux at the implanted device.
In a system including an implanted device having a magnetic field pick-up means for converting magnetic energy to electrical energy for energizing said implnated device, and an external magnetic field generator located so that magnetic lines of flux generated thereby intersect said pick-up means, a means for concentrating a portion of said magnetic lines of flux at said pick-up means comprising a metallic slug located between said generator and said pick-up means, thereby concentrating said magnetic lines of flux at said pick-up means.
A medical system comprising:
A method for increasing the magnetic flux density at an implanted device having a magnetic pick-up means for converting magnetic energy to electrical energy for energizing said implanted device, the steps comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.