Patent ID: 6694184
Filing Date: 2004-02-17
Classification: A61N,Y10S

Abstract:
A magnet device for magnetically activating a magnetic switch in an implantable cardiac device, the magnet device comprising:a magnet that produces a magnetic field strength of a first strength sufficient to activate a magnetic switch in an implantable cardiac device; and a housing that defines a high magnetic permeability path, wherein the housing has both an open configuration and a closed configuration and the magnet resides in the housing such that when the housing is in the closed configuration, the magnetic flux produced by the magnet is directed into the high magnetic permeability path such that the resulting strength of the magnetic field outside of the housing is diminished from the first strength such that the magnetic field will not activate the magnetic switch in the implantable cardiac device and wherein, when the housing is in the open configuration, the magnet produces a magnetic field outside of the housing having the first strength; wherein the housing comprises a first and a second shell that engage with each other so as to define an interior cavity that contains the magnet in the closed configuration and are at least partially separable from each other in the open configuration; and wherein the magnet is removable from the cavity defined by the first and second shells in the open configuration.