US3817237A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Regulatory apparatus
Assignee: Medtronic Inc
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Filing: 1972-08-24
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Granted: 1974-06-18
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Expires: 1992-08-24
Abstract
Abstract A regulatory apparatus for controlling the movement of fluids, cells and energy in conveying structure, as spermatazoa in the ductus deferens or signals in nerve fibers. The regulatory apparatus has a stepped down gear train driven in response to a remote magnetic field to selectively expand and contract a flexible member. A valving device connected to the flexible member is operable to selectively open and close a passageway coupled to the conveying structure in response to the expansion and contraction of the flexible member.
Inventors
- 👤 L Bolduc
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:33
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F6/00; A61F6/20; A61F6/22; A61F6/24; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/25
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
253 words
An apparatus for implantation in the body of an animal operable to control the functioning of a body fluid conveying means and being responsive to a remote moving magnetic field comprising: case means hermetically enclosing a space, said case means having imperforate flexible wall means having an inside surface and outside surface at one portion of the case means, first means for selectively expanding and contracting said flexible wall means, said first means including a first member attached to the inside surface of said flexible wall means and a second member threadably engaged with the first member, said second member being rotatable to selectively axially move the first member to thereby selectively expand and contract said flexible wall means, power transmission means connected to said second member for transmitting rotational motion to the second member, magnet means connected to the power transmission means, said magnet means being responsive to the remote moving magnetic field to operate the power transmission means, said first means, power transmission means and magnet means being located within the case means and valve means secured to the case means externally of the case means, said valve means having tubular means connected to the body fluid conveying means and plunger means secured to the outside surface of said flexible wall means and engageable with the tubular means, said plunger means movable in response to expansion and contraction of the flexible wall means to selectively open and close the tubular means to control the functioning of the body fluid conveying means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
253 words
An apparatus for implantation in the body of an animal operable to control the functioning of a body fluid conveying means and being responsive to a remote moving magnetic field comprising: case means hermetically enclosing a space, said case means having imperforate flexible wall means having an inside surface and outside surface at one portion of the case means, first means for selectively expanding and contracting said flexible wall means, said first means including a first member attached to the inside surface of said flexible wall means and a second member threadably engaged with the first member, said second member being rotatable to selectively axially move the first member to thereby selectively expand and contract said flexible wall means, power transmission means connected to said second member for transmitting rotational motion to the second member, magnet means connected to the power transmission means, said magnet means being responsive to the remote moving magnetic field to operate the power transmission means, said first means, power transmission means and magnet means being located within the case means and valve means secured to the case means externally of the case means, said valve means having tubular means connected to the body fluid conveying means and plunger means secured to the outside surface of said flexible wall means and engageable with the tubular means, said plunger means movable in response to expansion and contraction of the flexible wall means to selectively open and close the tubular means to control the functioning of the body fluid conveying means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said flexible wall means is a flexible diaphragm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said flexible wall means is a flexible diaphragm located across one end of the case means, said second member being attached to a center portion of the diaphragm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the first member includes a sleeve secured to the wall means, said sleeve having a threaded bore, said second member having a head threaded into said threaded bore.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said case means includes an expandable and contractable side wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said power transmission means is a stepped down gear train having an input shaft connected to the magnet means and an output shaft connected to the second member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said magnet means comprises at least one bar magnet having north and south magnetic poles at opposite ends thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the valve means has a body secured to the case means, said body having a passage accommodating the plunger means to control the functioning of the conveying means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein: the valve means has a pair of tubular members connected to the conveying means, said plunger means having a pair of movable members secured to the flexible wall means, one of said movable members being engageable with one tubular member and the other movable member being engageable with the other tubular member, said movable members being responsive to expansion movement of the flexible wall means to collapse the tubular members and responsive to contraction of said flexible means to permit the tubular members to open.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including: means securing the valve means to the case means, said valve means having a tubular member connected to the conveying means, and a body having a passage accommodating the plunger means whereby said plunger means is engageable with the tubular member so that on expansion of the flexible wall means, the plunger means closes the tubular member and on conTraction of the flexible wall means the plunger means permits the tubular member to open.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-17 | 1977-12-17 | 1978-06-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-17 | 1981-12-17 | 1982-06-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-17 | 1985-12-17 | 1986-06-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |