Remotely adjustable tissue displacement device
View Patent ↗The invention relates to an apparatus for displacing tissue within the body, wherein the apparatus includes two or more attachment members selectively displaceable with respect to each other via a driving member. The driving member preferably is rotatable and is caused to rotate by a magnetic actuator that can be activated by a magnetic field from outside the body.
1. A bone displacement apparatus comprising: a first bone attachment member; a second bone attachment member; and a displacement mechanism configured for subcutaneous implantation in a position accessible by a magnetic field transmitted through skin, the displacement mechanism comprising a rod operatively coupled to the first bone attachment member, a drive member operatively attached to the rod, the drive member having first screw threads, a tubular member operatively coupled to the second bone attachment member, an inner surface of the tubular member having second screw threads to engage the first screw threads, and a magnet rotatable back and forth in opposite directions, wherein when an external rotating magnetic force is applied to a magnet, the rod moves in a displacement direction in accordance with a rotational interaction of the first screw threads and second screw threads, wherein the drive member is driving by a ring having a tab that contacts a tooth of the drive member.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rod is directly connected to the first bone attachment member.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator operative to generate and transmit a rotating magnetic field to the magnet through the skin.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the actuator is aligned with the drive member.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the displacement mechanism moves the first bone attachment member axially relative to the second bone attachment member upon rotation of the rod in a displacement direction.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the displacement mechanism is rotatable in a first direction to displace the first attachment member away from the second attachment member, and the displacement mechanism is rotatable in a second direction to displace the first attachment member toward from the second attachment member.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second screw threads extend substantially along a length of the tubular member to engage the first screw threads.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first bone attachment member and the second bone attachment member are curved.