Active magnetic prosthesis for eye-lid re-animation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11896522-B2
Application number	US-201816607143-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 27, 2018
Priority date	Apr 28, 2017
Publication date	Feb 13, 2024
Grant date	Feb 13, 2024

Abstract

A device includes a frame, a rotatable housing and a permanent magnet. The frame is configured to be worn adjacent an eye region of a wearer. The rotatable housing is coupled to the frame. The permanent magnet is coupled to the rotatable housing and includes a first surface having a first static magnetic polarity and a second surface having a second static magnetic polarity opposite the first static magnetic polarity. The rotatable housing is arranged to rotate the permanent magnet between a first position orienting the first surface towards the eye region of the wearer and a second position orienting the second surface towards the eye region of the wearer. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device comprising:
a frame configured to be worn adjacent an eye region of a wearer;
a rotatable housing coupled to the frame; and
a permanent magnet coupled to the rotatable housing and including a first surface having a first static magnetic polarity and a second surface having a second static magnetic polarity opposite the first static magnetic polarity, the rotatable housing arranged to rotate the permanent magnet between a first position orienting the first surface towards the eye region of the wearer and a second position orienting the second surface towards the eye region of the wearer.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device further includes a servo motor, a stepper motor, a linear motor, a micro-fluidic motor, a hydraulic motor, or a knob.

3. The device of claim 1 , further including a micromagnetic array adhered to an eyelid of the wearer and surrounded by an optically clear polymer.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the optically clear polymer includes a silicon-based organic polymer.

5. The device of claim 3 , wherein the optically clear polymer includes polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the permanent magnet includes a neodymium magnet.

7. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a memory controller unit coupled to a motor and including a memory and a controller, the controller configured to access a predetermined rotation schedule protocol included in the memory and to control the rotation of the permanent magnet based on the predetermined rotation schedule protocol.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the predetermined rotation schedule protocol includes instructions to actuate the motor every 2 seconds, every 3 seconds, every 4 seconds, every 5 seconds, every 6 seconds, every 7 seconds, every 8 seconds, every 9 seconds, every 10 seconds, every 11 seconds, every 12 seconds, every 13 seconds, every 14 seconds, every 15 seconds, every 16 seconds, every 17 seconds, every 18 seconds, every 19 seconds, every 20 seconds, every 10 hours, or every 20 hours.

9. The device of claim 7 , further comprising an input coupled to the rotatable housing and configured to control the rotation of the permanent magnet when the input is activated by a user.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the input is a button, a knob, or a switch.

11. A method comprising:
providing a frame configured to be worn adjacent an eye region of a wearer, a rotatable housing coupled to the frame, and a permanent magnet coupled to the rotatable housing and including a first surface having a first static magnetic polarity and a second surface having a second static magnetic polarity opposite the first static magnetic polarity, the rotatable housing arranged to rotate the permanent magnet between a first position orienting the first surface towards the eye region of the wearer and a second position orienting the second surface towards the eye region of the wearer; and
actuating a micromagnetic array adhered to an eyelid of the wearer by rotating the permanent magnet between the first position and the second position to move the eyelid.

12. The method of claim 11 , further providing a servo motor, a stepper motor, a linear motor, a micro-fluidic motor, a hydraulic motor, or a knob.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the micromagnetic array includes a magnet surrounded by an optically clear polymer.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the permanent magnet includes a neodymium magnet.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising providing a memory controller unit coupled to a motor and including a memory and a controller, the controller configured to access a predetermined rotation schedule protocol included in the memory and to control the rotation of the permanent magnet based on the predetermined rotation schedule protocol.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising providing an input coupled to the rotatable housing and configured to control the rotation of the permanent magnet in response to activation of the input by a user.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the input is a button, a knob, or a switch.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the micromagnetic array is adhered to the eyelid of the wearer using a hydrocolloid adhesive provided over a top surface of the micromagnetic array.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the predetermined rotation schedule protocol includes instructions to actuate the motor every 2 seconds, every 3 seconds, every 4 seconds, every 5 seconds, every 6 seconds, every 7 seconds, every 8 seconds, every 9 seconds, every 10 seconds, every 11 seconds, every 12 seconds, every 13 seconds, every 14 seconds, every 15 seconds, every 16 seconds, every 17 seconds, every 18 seconds, every 19 seconds, every 20 seconds, every 10 hours, or every 20 hours.

Assignees

• Schepens Eye Res Inst

Inventors

• Houston Kevin
• Ilios Eleftherios Paschalis
• Tomasi Matteo

Classifications

• A61F9/00718 Primary

  Restoration of lid function · CPC title

• A61N2/006

  for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue · CPC title

• A61N2/02

  using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets (A61N2/12 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61N2/06

  using magnetic fields produced by permanent magnets (A61N2/12 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01F7/02

  Permanent magnets {[PM]} · CPC title