Magnetic joint implant

Abstract

The application is directed to devices and methods where one or more magnetic or magnetizable implants provides therapeutic benefits to a patient. The implant may be useful for expanding the range of motion of joints or dynamically providing different responses to changing conditions in the body where the implant is placed. An electromagnet is placed on or in a bone on one side of a joint, and another electromagnet or magnetically active material is placed on or in a bone on the opposing side of the joint. The electromagnet may be continuously energized to relieve pressure in the joint space, or may be energized in response to forces applied to the joint.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A tissue retraction system, the system comprising:
 a magnetically active implant configured to be removably affixed to at least one of a soft tissue and an organ in a body; and   a magnetically active element configured to be located outside the body and configured to attract the magnetically active implant removably affixed to the at least one of a soft tissue and an organ in a body,   wherein movement of the magnetically active element outside the body is configured to influence at least one of the location, shape, and position of the soft tissue in the body.   
     
     
         22 . The tissue retraction system of  claim 21 , wherein the magnetically active implant is comprised of at least two components. 
     
     
         23 . The tissue retraction system of  claim 21 , wherein the magnetically active implant is configured to affix to the soft tissue by at least one of a band, adhesive, suture, staple, clip, clamp, and magnetic attraction. 
     
     
         24 . The tissue retraction system of  claim 21 , wherein the magnetically active implant is configured to be positioned through a cannula. 
     
     
         25 . The tissue retraction system of  claim 21 , further comprising at least a second magnetically active implant configured to be removably affixed to at least one of the same and a different soft tissue and an organ in the body. 
     
     
         26 . The tissue retraction system of  claim 21 , wherein the magnetically active element is at least one of a permanent magnet and an electromagnet. 
     
     
         27 . The tissue retraction system of  claim 21 , further comprising the magnetically active element having a magnetic field with adjustable magnetic intensity. 
     
     
         28 . The tissue retraction system of  claim 21 , wherein the organ is one of a stomach and intestine. 
     
     
         29 . A tissue retraction system, the system comprising:
 a cannula configured to create a passage from outside a body to inside the body;   a magnetically active implant configured to be positioned in the body through the cannula, and the magnetically active implant configured to be removably affixed to at least one of a soft tissue and an organ in a body; and   a magnetically active element configured to be located outside the body and configured to attract the magnetically active implant removably affixed to the soft tissue in the body,   wherein movement of the magnetically active element outside the body is configured to influence at least one of the location, shape, and position of the soft tissue in the body.   
     
     
         30 . The tissue retraction system of  claim 29 , wherein the magnetically active implant is comprised of at least two components. 
     
     
         31 . The tissue retraction system of  claim 29 , wherein the magnetically active implant is configured to affix to the soft tissue by at least one of a band, adhesive, suture, staple, clip, clamp, and magnetic attraction. 
     
     
         32 . The tissue retraction system of  claim 29 , further comprising at least a second magnetically active implant configured to be removably affixed to at least one of the same and a different soft tissue and an organ in the body. 
     
     
         33 . The tissue retraction system of  claim 29 , wherein the magnetically active element is at least one of a permanent magnet and an electromagnet. 
     
     
         34 . The tissue retraction system of  claim 29 , further comprising the magnetically active element having a magnetic field with adjustable magnetic intensity. 
     
     
         35 . The tissue retraction system of  claim 29 , wherein the organ is one of a stomach and intestine. 
     
     
         36 . A method of retracting tissue in a body, the method comprising:
 inserting a cannula through an incision to create a passage from outside the body to inside the body;   passing a magnetically active implant through the cannula and into the body;   affixing the magnetically active implant to at least one of a soft tissue and an organ in a body, wherein the magnetically active implant is configured to be removable from the at least one of the soft tissue and organ;   positioning a magnetically active element outside the body, wherein the magnetically active element is configured to attract the magnetically active implant;   positioning the magnetically active implant affixed to the soft tissue in the body with movement of the magnetically active element   wherein the movement of the magnetically active element outside the body is configured to influence at least one of the location, shape, and position of the soft tissue in the body.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the magnetically active implant is comprised of at least two components. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the magnetically active implant is configured to affix to the soft tissue by at least one of a band, adhesive, suture, staple, clip, clamp, and magnetic attraction. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the magnetically active element is an electromagnet having a magnetic field with an adjustable magnetic intensity. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the organ is one of a stomach and intestine.