New magnet arrangement with different portions

Abstract

A method including obtaining a first magnetizable element having a first particle direction, obtaining a second magnetizable element having second particle direction, connecting the first magnetizable element to the second magnetizable element to obtain a magnetizable arrangement and magnetizing the magnetizable arrangement after the action of connecting. In an embodiment, the magnetizable arrangement has a circular outer profile.

Description

Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1NEW MAGNET ARRANGEMENT WITH DIFFERENT PORTIONSCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[oooi] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 689,079, entitled MAGNET ARRANGEMENT WITH DIFFERENT PORTIONS, filed on August 30, 2024, naming Irene Tsimos DIOLASO as an inventor, the entire contents of that application being incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND

[0002] Medical devices have provided a wide range of therapeutic benefits to recipients over recent decades. Medical devices can include internal or implantable components / devices, external or wearable components / devices, or combinations thereof (e.g., a device having an external component communicating with an implantable component). Medical devices, such as traditional hearing aids, partially or fully-implantable hearing prostheses (e.g., bone conduction devices, mechanical stimulators, cochlear implants, etc.), pacemakers, defibrillators, functional electrical stimulation devices, and other medical devices, have been successful in performing lifesaving and / or lifestyle enhancement functions and / or recipient monitoring for a number of years.

[0003] The types of medical devices and the ranges of functions performed thereby have increased over the years. For example, many medical devices, sometimes referred to as “implantable medical devices,” now often include one or more instruments, apparatus, sensors, processors, controllers or other functional mechanical or electrical components that are permanently or temporarily implanted in a recipient. These functional devices are typically used to diagnose, prevent, monitor, treat, or manage a disease / injury or symptom thereof, or to investigate, replace or modify the anatomy or a physiological process. Many of these functional devices utilize power and / or data received from external devices that are part of, or operate in conjunction with, implantable components.SUMMARY

[0004] In an exemplary embodiment, there is a method, comprising obtaining a first magnetizable element having a first particle direction, obtaining a second magnetizable element having second particle direction, connecting the first magnetizable element to the second magnetizable element to obtain a magnetizable arrangement and magnetizing the magnetizable arrangement after the action of connecting.Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1

[0005] In an embodiment, there is a method of making a magnet arrangement that includes at least two distinct magnetic portions, comprising obtaining a first magnetizable element, obtaining a second magnetizable element and joining, using heat, the first magnetizable element to the second magnetizable element, wherein the magnet arrangement has a first portion corresponding to a spatial location of the first magnetizable element at the time of joining and a second portion corresponding to a spatial location of the second magnetizable element at the time of joining, wherein the at least two distinct magnetic portions of the magnet arrangement include the first portion and the second portion, and a magnetization direction of the first portion of the magnet arrangement is one of obliquely angled or orthogonal relative to a magnetization direction of the second portion of the magnet arrangement.

[0006] In an embodiment, there is a device, comprising a first magnetized portion having a first particle direction and a second magnetized portion having a second particle direction different from the first particle direction, wherein a magnetization direction of the first portion is angled at an angle relative to a magnetization direction of the second portion, the angle is a non-zero angle, and at least one of the first portion is connected to the second portion or the device is configured so that the first portion maintains an alignment with the second portion when exposed to a 3 T magnetic field from any angle.

[0007] In an embodiment, there is a device, comprising a first magnetized portion and a second magnetized portion, wherein the first magnetized portion and the second magnetized portion establish a magnet arrangement having, respectively, a first magnetization axis and a second magnetization axis, the first axis and the second axis being linear and having a nonzero angle relative to each other, and the first magnetized portion is connected to the second magnetized portion by way of metal molecule interaction with the first magnetized portion and metal molecule interaction with the second magnetized portion.

[0008] In an embodiment, there is a device, comprising a first magnetized portion having a first distribution of local magnetic axes and a second magnetized portion having a second distribution of local magnetic axes, wherein the first magnetized portion is directly materially linked to the second magnetized portion, and a tangential line or direction of the first distribution over a majority of a contiguous length of the first distribution is at a non-zero angle to a tangential line or direction of the second distribution over a majority of a contiguous length of the second distribution.Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1

[0009] In an embodiment, there is an implantable medical device, comprising a magnet arrangement including a first magnetized portion and a second magnetized portion, wherein the first magnetized portion and the second magnetized portion have, respectively, a first magnetization axis and a second magnetization axis, the first axis and the second axis being linear and having a non-zero angle relative to each other, and the first magnetized portion is connected to the second magnetized portion by way of metal molecule interaction with the first magnetized portion and metal molecule interaction with the second magnetized portion.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS[ooio] FIG. 1 depicts a partial perspective view of a cochlear implant worn on a recipient.[ooii] FIG. 2 depicts a cross-sectional schematic view of a passive transcutaneous bone conduction device worn on a recipient according to an embodiment.

[0012] FIG. 2A depicts a top view of an implantable portion of a cochlear implant according to an embodiment.

[0013] FIG. 2B depicts a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 2 A.

[0014] FIG. 2C depicts a side view of an active transcutaneous bone conduction device according to an embodiment.

[0015] FIG. 2D depicts an exemplary retinal implant according to an embodiment.

[0016] FIG. 3A depicts a partial cross-sectional schematic view of a passive transcutaneous bone conduction device worn on a recipient.

[0017] FIG. 3B depicts a partial cross-sectional schematic view of a passive transcutaneous bone conduction device utilizing magnet groups, worn on a recipient.

[0018] FIGs. 4A and 4B are perspective views of an exemplary magnet group.

[0019] FIG. 5A is a perspective view of an exemplary magnet group.

[0020] FIG. 5B is a perspective view of an exemplary magnet group.

[0021] FIG. 5C is an exemplary magnet arrangement.

[0022] FIG. 6 is an exemplary magnet arrangement.

[0023] FIG. 7 is an exemplary magnet arrangement.

[0024] FIG. 8 is an exemplary magnet arrangement.

[0025] FIGs. 9 and 10 and 11 show some features for purpose of background.Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1

[0026] FIGs. 12 and 12A and 18 show exemplary flowcharts for exemplary methods.

[0027] FIGs. 13 and 14 show exemplary magnet elements according to an embodiment.

[0028] FIG. 15 shows an exemplary magnet arrangement.

[0029] FIG. 16 shows an exemplary magnetization action.

[0030] FIGs. 17 and 19-24 show figures detailing some various embodiments.

[0031] FIGs. 25 and 26 show views of some embodiments.

[0032] FIGs. 27-32 show exemplary magnet arrangements.

[0033] FIG. 33 shows an exemplary magnet arrangement with intended magnetization directions which results from an exemplary magnetization method.

[0034] FIGs. 34 and 35 show exemplary magnetization actions.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Merely for ease of description, the techniques presented herein are described herein with reference by way of background to an illustrative medical device, namely a cochlear implant. However, it is to be appreciated that the techniques presented herein may also be used with a variety of other medical devices that, while providing a wide range of therapeutic benefits to recipients, patients, or other users, may benefit from setting changes based on the location of the medical device. For example, the techniques presented herein may be used to determine the viability of various types of prostheses, such as, for example, a vestibular implant and / or a retinal implant, with respect to a particular human being. And with regard to the latter, the techniques presented herein are also described with reference by way of background to another illustrative medical device, namely a retinal implant. The techniques presented herein are also applicable to the technology of vestibular devices (e.g., vestibular implants), visual devices (i.e., bionic eyes), sensors, pacemakers, drug delivery systems, defibrillators, functional electrical stimulation devices, catheters, seizure devices (e.g., devices for monitoring and / or treating epileptic events), sleep apnea devices, electroporation, etc.

[0036] Also, embodiments are directed to other types of hearing prostheses, such as middle ear implants, bone conduction devices (active transcutaneous, passive transcutaneous, percutaneous), and conventional hearing aids. Thus, embodiments are directed to devices that include implantable portions and embodiments that do not include implantable portions.Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1

[0037] Any reference to one of the above-noted sensory prostheses corresponds to an alternate disclosure using one of the other above-noted sensory prostheses unless otherwise noted, providing that the art enables such.

[0038] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cochlear implant, referred to as cochlear implant 100, implanted in a recipient, to which some embodiments detailed herein and / or variations thereof are applicable. Particularly, as will be detailed below, there are aspects of a cochlear implant that are utilized with respect to a vestibular implant, and thus there is utility in describing features of the cochlear implant for purposes of understanding a vestibular implant. The cochlear implant 100 is part of a system 10 that can include external components in some embodiments, as will be detailed below. Additionally, it is noted that the teachings detailed herein are also applicable to other types of hearing prostheses, such as, by way of example only and not by way of limitation, bone conduction devices (percutaneous, active transcutaneous and / or passive transcutaneous), direct acoustic cochlear stimulators, middle ear implants, and conventional hearing aids, etc. Indeed, it is noted that the teachings detailed herein are also applicable to so-called multi-mode devices. In an exemplary embodiment, these multi-mode devices apply both electrical stimulation and acoustic stimulation to the recipient. In an exemplary embodiment, these multi-mode devices evoke a hearing percept via electrical hearing and bone conduction hearing.

[0039] In view of the above, it is to be understood that at least some embodiments detailed herein and / or variations thereof are directed towards a body-worn sensory supplement medical device (e.g., the hearing prosthesis of FIG. 1, which supplements the hearing sense, even in instances when there are no natural hearing capabilities, for example, due to degeneration of previous natural hearing capability or to the lack of any natural hearing capability, for example, from birth). Again, it is noted that at least some exemplary embodiments of some sensory supplement medical devices are directed towards devices such as conventional hearing aids, which supplement the hearing sense in instances where some natural hearing capabilities have been retained, and visual prostheses (both those that are applicable to recipients having some natural vision capabilities and to recipients having no natural vision capabilities). Accordingly, the teachings detailed herein are applicable to any type of sensory supplement medical device to which the teachings detailed herein are enabled for use therein in a utilitarian manner. In this regard, the phrase sensory supplement medical device refers to any device that functions to provide sensation to a recipient irrespective ofAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 whether the applicable natural sense is only partially impaired or completely impaired, or indeed never existed.

[0040] The recipient has an outer ear 101, a middle ear 105, and an inner ear 107. Components of outer ear 101, middle ear 105, and inner ear 107 are described below, followed by a description of cochlear implant 100.

[0041] In a fully functional ear, outer ear 101 comprises an auricle 110 and an ear canal 102. An acoustic pressure or sound wave 103 is collected by auricle 110 and channeled into and through ear canal 102. Disposed across the distal end of ear channel 102 is a tympanic membrane 104 which vibrates in response to sound wave 103. This vibration is coupled to oval window or fenestra ovalis 112 through three bones of middle ear 105, collectively referred to as the ossicles 106 and comprising the malleus 108, the incus 109, and the stapes 111. Bones 108, 109, and 111 of middle ear 105 serve to filter and amplify sound wave 103, causing oval window 112 to articulate, or vibrate in response to vibration of tympanic membrane 104. This vibration sets up waves of fluid motion of the perilymph within cochlea 140. Such fluid motion, in turn, activates tiny hair cells (not shown) inside of cochlea 140. Activation of the hair cells causes appropriate nerve impulses to be generated and transferred through the spiral ganglion cells (not shown) and auditory nerve 114 to the brain (also not shown) where they are perceived as sound.

[0042] As shown, cochlear implant 100 comprises one or more components which are temporarily or permanently implanted in the recipient. Cochlear implant 100 is shown in FIG. 1 with an external device 142, that is part of system 10 (along with cochlear implant 100), which, as described below, is configured to provide power to the cochlear implant, where the implanted cochlear implant includes a battery that is recharged by the power provided from the external device 142.

[0043] In the illustrative arrangement of FIG. 1, external device 142 can comprise a power source (not shown) disposed in a Behind-The-Ear (BTE) unit 126. External device 142 also includes components of a transcutaneous energy transfer link, referred to as an external energy transfer assembly. The transcutaneous energy transfer link is used to transfer power and / or data to cochlear implant 100. Various types of energy transfer, such as infrared (IR), electromagnetic, capacitive and inductive transfer, may be used to transfer the power and / or data from external device 142 to cochlear implant 100. In the illustrative embodiments of FIG. 1, the external energy transfer assembly comprises an external coil 130 that forms partAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 of an inductive radio frequency (RF) communication link. External coil 130 is typically a wire antenna coil comprised of multiple turns of electrically insulated single-strand or multistrand platinum or gold wire. External device 142 also includes a magnet (not shown) positioned within the turns of wire of external coil 130. It should be appreciated that the external device shown in FIG. 1 is merely illustrative, and other external devices may be used with embodiments.

[0044] Cochlear implant 100 comprises an internal energy transfer assembly 132 which can be positioned in a recess of the temporal bone adjacent auricle 110 of the recipient. As detailed below, internal energy transfer assembly 132 is a component of the transcutaneous energy transfer link and receives power and / or data from external device 142. In the illustrative embodiment, the energy transfer link comprises an inductive RF link, and internal energy transfer assembly 132 comprises a primary internal coil 136. Internal coil 136 is typically a wire antenna coil comprised of multiple turns of electrically insulated singlestrand or multi-strand platinum or gold wire.

[0045] Cochlear implant 100 further comprises a main implantable component 120 and an elongate electrode assembly 118. In some embodiments, internal energy transfer assembly 132 and main implantable component 120 are hermetically sealed within a biocompatible housing. In some embodiments, main implantable component 120 includes an implantable microphone assembly (not shown) and a sound processing unit (not shown) to convert the sound signals received by the implantable microphone in internal energy transfer assembly 132 to data signals. That said, in some alternative embodiments, the implantable microphone assembly can be located in a separate implantable component (e.g., that has its own housing assembly, etc.) that is in signal communication with the main implantable component 120 (e.g., via leads or the like between the separate implantable component and the main implantable component 120). In at least some embodiments, the teachings detailed herein and / or variations thereof can be utilized with any type of implantable microphone arrangement.

[0046] Main implantable component 120 further includes a stimulator unit (also not shown) which generates electrical stimulation signals based on the data signals. The electrical stimulation signals are delivered to the recipient via elongate electrode assembly 118.

[0047] Elongate electrode assembly 118 has a proximal end connected to main implantable component 120, and a distal end implanted in cochlea 140. Electrode assembly 118 extendsAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 from main implantable component 120 to cochlea 140 through mastoid bone 119. In some embodiments electrode assembly 118 may be implanted at least in basal region 116, and sometimes further. For example, electrode assembly 118 may extend towards apical end of cochlea 140, referred to as cochlea apex 134. In certain circumstances, electrode assembly 118 may be inserted into cochlea 140 via a cochleostomy 122. In other circumstances, a cochleostomy may be formed through round window 121, oval window 112, the promontory 123 or through an apical turn 147 of cochlea 140.

[0048] Electrode assembly 118 comprises a longitudinally aligned and distally extending array 146 of electrodes 148, disposed along a length thereof. As noted, a stimulator unit generates stimulation signals which are applied by electrodes 148 to cochlea 140, thereby stimulating auditory nerve 114.

[0049] Thus, as seen above, one variety of implanted devices depends on an external component to provide certain functionality and / or power. For example, the recipient of the implanted device can wear an external component that provides power and / or data (e.g., a signal representative of sound) to the implanted portion that allow the implanted device to function. In particular, the implanted device can lack a battery and can instead be totally dependent on an external power source providing continuous power for the implanted device to function. Although the external power source can continuously provide power, characteristics of the provided power need not be constant and may fluctuate. Additionally, where the implanted device is an auditory prosthesis such as a cochlear implant, the implanted device can lack its own sound input device (e.g., a microphone). It is sometimes utilitarian to remove the external component. For example, it is common for a recipient of an auditory prosthesis to remove an external portion of the prosthesis while sleeping. Doing so can result in loss of function of the implanted portion of the prosthesis, which can make it impossible for recipient to hear ambient sound. This can be less than utilitarian and can result in the recipient being unable to hear while sleeping. Loss of function would also prevent the implanted portion from responding to signals representative of streamed content (e.g., music streamed from a phone) or providing other functionality, such as providing tinnitus suppression noise.

[0050] The external component that provides power and / or data can be worn by the recipient, as detailed above. While a wearable external device is worn by a recipient, the external device is typically in very close proximity and tightly aligned with an implanted component. The wearable external device can be configured to operate in these conditions. Conversely,Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 in some instances, an unworn device can generally be further away and less tightly aligned with the implanted component. This can create difficulties where the implanted device depends on an external device for power and data (e.g., where the implanted device lacks its own battery and microphone), and the external device can need to continuously and consistently provide power and data in order to allow for continuous and consistent functionality of the implanted device.

[0051] FIG. 2 depicts an example of a transcutaneous bone conduction device 200 that includes an external portion 204 and an implantable portion 206. The transcutaneous bone conduction device 200 of FIG. 2 is a passive transcutaneous bone conduction device in that a vibrating actuator 208 is located in the external portion 204. Vibrating actuator 208 is located in housing 210 of the external component, and is coupled to plate 212. Plate 212 can be in the form of a permanent magnet, a group of magnets, and / or in another form that generates and / or is reactive to a magnetic field, or otherwise permits the establishment of magnetic attraction between the external portion 204 and the implantable portion 206 sufficient to hold the external portion 204 against the skin of the recipient. Magnetic attraction can be further enhanced by utilization of a magnetic implantable plate 216. A single external magnet 212 of a first polarity and a single implantable magnet 216 of a second polarity, are depicted in FIG. 2. In alternative embodiments, two magnets in both the external portion 204 and implantable portion 206 can be utilized. In a further alternative embodiment, the plate 212 can include an additional plastic or biocompatible housing (not shown) that encapsulates plate 212 and contacts the skin of the recipient.

[0052] The vibrating actuator 208 is a device that converts electrical signals into vibration. In operation, sound input element 126 converts sound into electrical signals. Specifically, the transcutaneous bone conduction device 200 provides these electrical signals to vibrating actuator 208, or to a sound processor (not shown) that processes the electrical signals, and then provides those processed signals to vibrating actuator 208. The vibrating actuator 208 converts the electrical signals into vibrations. Because vibrating actuator 208 is mechanically coupled to plate 212, the vibrations are transferred from the vibrating actuator 208 to plate 212. Implantable plate assembly 214 is part of the implantable portion 206, and is made of a ferromagnetic material that can be in the form of a permanent magnet, that generates and / or is reactive to a magnetic field, or otherwise permits the establishment of a magnetic attraction between the external portion 204 and the implantable portion 206 sufficient to hold the external portion 204 against the skin 132 of the recipient. Additional details regarding theAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 magnet groups that can be utilized in both the external portion 204 and the implantable portion 206 are described in more detail herein. Accordingly, vibrations produced by the vibrating actuator 208 of the external portion 204 are transferred from plate 212 across the skin 132 to implantable plate 216 of implantable plate assembly 214. This can be accomplished as a result of mechanical conduction of the vibrations through the skin 132, resulting from the external portion 204 being in direct contact with the skin 132 and / or from the magnetic field between the two plates 212, 216. These vibrations are transferred without a component penetrating the skin 132, fat 128, or muscular 134 layers.

[0053] As can be seen, the implantable plate assembly 214 is substantially rigidly attached to bone fixture 220 in this embodiment. Implantable plate assembly 214 includes through hole 220 that is contoured to the outer contours of the bone fixture 218, in this case, a bone screw that is secured to the bone 136 of the skull. This through hole 220 thus forms a bone fixture interface section that is contoured to the exposed section of the bone fixture 218. In an exemplary embodiment, the sections are sized and dimensioned such that at least a slip fit or an interference fit exists with respect to the sections. Plate screw 222 is used to secure implantable plate assembly 214 to bone fixture 218. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the head of the plate screw 222 is larger than the hole through the implantable plate assembly 214, and thus the plate screw 222 positively retains the implantable plate assembly 214 to the bone fixture 218. In certain embodiments, a silicon layer 224 is located between the implantable plate 216 and bone 136.

[0054] FIG. 2A depicts an exemplary high-level diagram of another exemplary prosthesis including an implantable component 300 of a cochlear implant system, which can be a totally implantable system or a system with an external component (sound processor, RF antenna, microphone, etc. - more on this below) and the implantable component 300, looking downward from outside the skull towards the skull. This can correspond to the implantable portion of FIG. 1. As can be seen, implantable component 300 includes a magnet 160 that is surrounded by a coil 137 that is in two-way communication (although in some instances, the communication is one-way) with a stimulator unit 122, which in turn is in communication with the electrode assembly 118. This is basically a classic implantable component of a so- called cochlear implant.

[0055] Still with reference to FIG. 2A, it is noted that the stimulator unit 122, and the magnet apparatus 160 are located in a body made of an elastomeric material 199, such as by way of example only and not by way of limitation, silicone. Hereinafter, the elastomeric materialAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1199 of the body will be often referred to as silicone. However, it is noted that any reference to silicone herein also corresponds to a reference to any other type of component that will enable the teachings detailed herein and / or variations thereof, such as, by way of example and not by way of limitation only, bio-compatible rubber, etc.

[0056] As can be seen in FIG. 2 A, the housing made of elastomeric material 199 includes a slit 180 (not shown in FIG. 2B, as, in some instances, the slit is not utilized, and in other instances, the slit is located elsewhere - more on this below). In some variations, the slit 180 has utilitarian value in that it can enable insertion and / or removal of the magnet apparatus 160 from the body made of elastomeric material 199, such as for MRI treatment. The magnet apparatus is surrounded by silicone 170 of the silicone body 199, and the silicone holds the magnet apparatus in place, and also supports the coil.

[0057] It is noted that magnet apparatus 160 is presented in a conceptual manner. In this regard, it is noted that in at least some instances, the magnet apparatus 160 is an assembly that includes a magnet surrounded by a biocompatible coating. Still further by way of example, magnet apparatus 160 is an assembly where the magnet is located within a container having interior dimensions generally corresponding to the exterior dimensions of the magnet, although in other embodiments, this is not the case. This container can be hermetically sealed, thus isolating the magnet in the container from body fluids of the recipient that penetrate the housing (the same principle of operation occurs with respect to the aforementioned coated magnet). In an exemplary embodiment, this container permits the magnet to revolve or otherwise move relative to the container, as is known in the art. Additional details of the container will be described below. In this regard, it is noted that while sometimes the term magnet is used as shorthand for the phrase magnet apparatus, and thus any disclosure herein with respect to a magnet also corresponds to a disclosure of a magnet apparatus according to the aforementioned embodiments and / or variations thereof and / or any other configuration that can have utilitarian value according to the teachings detailed herein.

[0058] With reference now to FIG. 2B it is noted that the outlines of the silicone body made from elastomeric material 199 are presented in dashed line format for ease of discussion. In an exemplary embodiment, silicone or some other elastomeric material fills the interior within the dashed line, other than the other components of the implantable device (e.g., plates, magnet, stimulator, etc.). That said, in an alternative embodiment, silicone or some other elastomeric material substantially fills the interior within the dashed lines other than theAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 components of the implantable device (e.g., there can be pockets within the dashed line in which no components and no silicone are located).

[0059] It is noted that FIGs. 2 A and 2B are conceptual figures presented for purposes of discussion. Commercial embodiments corresponding to these FIGs. can be different from that depicted in the figures.

[0060] FIG. 2C depicts an exemplary embodiment of a transcutaneous bone conduction device 499 according to another embodiment that includes an external device 440 and an implantable component 450. The transcutaneous bone conduction device 499 of FIG. 2C is an active transcutaneous bone conduction device in that the vibrating actuator 452 (which can be an electromagnetic actuator, or a piezoelectric actuator, etc.) is located in the implantable component 450. Specifically, a vibratory element in the form of vibrating actuator 452 is located in housing 454 of the implantable component 450. In an exemplary embodiment, much like the vibrating actuator 342 described above with respect to transcutaneous bone conduction device 300, the vibrating actuator 452 is a device that converts electrical signals into vibration.

[0061] External component 440 includes a sound input element 126 that converts sound into electrical signals. Specifically, the transcutaneous bone conduction device 499 provides these electrical signals to vibrating actuator 452, or to a sound processor (not shown) that processes the electrical signals, and then provides those processed signals to the implantable component 450 through the skin of the recipient via a magnetic inductance link. In this regard, a transmitter coil 442 of the external component 440 transmits these signals to implanted receiver coil 456 located in housing 458 of the implantable component 450. Components (not shown) in the housing 458, such as, for example, a signal generator or an implanted sound processor, then generate electrical signals to be delivered to vibrating actuator 452 via electrical lead assembly 460. The vibrating actuator 452 converts the electrical signals into vibrations.

[0062] The vibrating actuator 452 is mechanically coupled to the housing 454. Housing 454 and vibrating actuator 452 collectively form a vibratory apparatus 453. The housing 454 is substantially rigidly attached to bone fixture 341.

[0063] As with the embodiments above, the external device 440 is held against the skin via magnetic attraction between a ferromagnetic body in the external device 440 and the implantable component 450, such as in the implanted receiver coil apparatus 456.Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1

[0064] FIG. 2D presents an exemplary embodiment of a neural prosthesis in general, and a retinal prosthesis and an environment of use thereof, in particular. In some embodiments of a retinal prosthesis, a retinal prosthesis sensor-stimulator 1108 is positioned proximate the retina 1110. In an exemplary embodiment, photons entering the eye are absorbed by a microelectronic array of the sensor-stimulator 1108 that is hybridized to a glass piece 1112 containing, for example, an embedded array of microwires. The glass can have a curved surface that conforms to the inner radius of the retina. The sensor-stimulator 108 can include a microelectronic imaging device that can be made of thin silicon containing integrated circuitry that convert the incident photons to an electronic charge.

[0065] An image processor 1102 is in signal communication with the sensor-stimulator 1108 via cable 1104 which extends through surgical incision 1106 through the eye wall (although in other embodiments, the image processor 1102 is in wireless communication with the sensor-stimulator 1108). In an exemplary embodiment, the image processor 1102 is analogous to the sound processor / signal processors of the auditory prostheses detailed herein, and in this regard, any disclosure of the latter herein corresponds to a disclosure of the former in an alternate embodiment. The image processor 1102 processes the input into the sensor-stimulator 108, and provides control signals back to the sensor-stimulator 1108 so the device can provide processed and output to the optic nerve. That said, in an alternate embodiment, the processing is executed by a component proximate to or integrated with the sensor-stimulator 1108. The electric charge resulting from the conversion of the incident photons is converted to a proportional amount of electronic current which is input to a nearby retinal cell layer. The cells fire and a signal is sent to the optic nerve, thus inducing a sight perception.

[0066] The retinal prosthesis can include an external device disposed in a Behind-The-Ear (BTE) unit or in a pair of eyeglasses, or any other type of component that can have utilitarian value. The retinal prosthesis can include an external light / image capture device (e.g., located in / on a BTE device or a pair of glasses, etc.), while, as noted above, in some embodiments, the sensor-stimulator 1108 captures light / images, which sensor-stimulator is implanted in the recipient. In an exemplary embodiment, there is a transcutaneous communication coil that is held against a skin of a recipient via magnetic attraction to communication with an implanted component, which implanted component provides the stimulation to evoke a sight precept. In an embodiment, the teachings herein regarding magnetic attraction are utilized in such.Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1

[0067] In the interests of compact disclosure, any disclosure herein of a microphone or sound capture device corresponds to an analogous disclosure of a light / image capture device, such as a charge-coupled device. Corollary to this is that any disclosure herein of a stimulator unit which generates electrical stimulation signals or otherwise imparts energy to tissue to evoke a hearing percept corresponds to an analogous disclosure of a stimulator device for a retinal prosthesis. Any disclosure herein of a sound processor or processing of captured sounds or the like corresponds to an analogous disclosure of a light processor / image processor that has analogous functionality for a retinal prosthesis, and the processing of captured images in an analogous manner. Indeed, any disclosure herein of a device for a hearing prosthesis corresponds to a disclosure of a device for a retinal prosthesis having analogous functionality for a retinal prosthesis. Any disclosure herein of fitting a hearing prosthesis corresponds to a disclosure of fitting a retinal prosthesis using analogous actions. Any disclosure herein of a method of using or operating or otherwise working with a hearing prosthesis herein corresponds to a disclosure of using or operating or otherwise working with a retinal prosthesis in an analogous manner.

[0068] The teachings detailed herein can be used in any of the embodiments disclosed above and / or in other medical devices.

[0069] FIG. 3A depicts a partial cross-sectional schematic view of a magnet group 300a of an exemplary transcutaneous bone conduction device (or, a headpiece for a transcutaneous communication inductance coil, in an alternate embodiment) for a recipient R. Only skin 132 of the recipient R is depicted for clarity. The bone conduction device includes external magnet portions 302 and an implantable magnet portions 304. These are depicted without any of the other components seen for purposes of clarity. Each of the external group 302 and the implantable group 304 include reciprocal groups of magnets that form a transcutaneous coupling between those groups 302, 304, via a closed magnetic circuit. Other components in the external portion and the implantable portion e.g., housings, sound processing components, batteries, microphones, actuators, anchors, etc., are described above, but not depicted in FIG. 3 A. The external group 302 includes a plurality of external magnets 308, 310. In this embodiment, magnet 308 has a magnetization direction (e.g., as defined by the north and south poles thereof) that extends into the skin 132 of the recipient R, while magnet 310 has a magnetization direction that extends away from the skin 132. As such, these magnetization directions are substantially parallel and opposed to each other. In the illustrated example, the implantable portion 304 also includes two magnets 314, 316. Magnet 314 has aAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 magnetization direction that is both substantially parallel to and harmonized with the magnetization direction of magnet 308, while magnet 316 has a magnetization direction that is both substantially parallel to and harmonized with the magnetization direction of magnet 310. The magnets 314, 316 can be disposed in a housing.

[0070] Magnetic flux generated by the magnets 308, 310, 314, 316 is also depicted in FIG. 3 A. The magnetic field, and especially stray portions thereof, can interfere with the operation of the inductance communication coils that extend about the magnets in a device such as an active transcutaneous bone conduction device, or a cochlear implant, etc., that utilizes such to communicate with components implanted in the recipient, or the sound processor in general or other components disposed in the external portion. The performance of the vibrating actuator (if electromagnetic), such as in the case of a passive transcutaneous bone conduction device, which is typically in close proximity to the external magnets, can also be worsened by stray magnetic fields penetrating the actuator, thus reducing sensitivity and causing distortion.

[0071] FIG. 3B depicts a partial cross-sectional schematic view of magnets 300b for a device such as, for example, a transcutaneous bone conduction device for a recipient R. This arrangement 300b utilizes additional magnets 312, 318, that have the utilitarian effect of reducing stray magnetic fields and otherwise improve performance. Utilization of magnets 312 and 318 can reduce interferences and further improve functionality of the auditory prosthesis or other device associated therewith. The magnetization direction of magnet 312 is substantially parallel and opposed to magnetization direction of magnet 318. Both of these magnetization directions are substantially parallel to the skin 132. The magnetic components 312, 318 divert the magnetic flux as depicted in FIG. 3B, to reduce the stray magnetic fields, thus correcting or minimizing the above-identified and other issues. Regardless of the number of magnets used, arranging the magnets 312, 318 such that the magnetization directions are in a circuit that defines a substantially continuous magnetic flux path in the medical device. In other words, the magnets 312, 318 create a shortcut for flux on that side of the medical device. As such, each of magnets 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, and 318 define a localized section of the flux path. By creating the circuit of magnetization direction, the magnetic flux is distributed asymmetrically on opposing sides of the medical device. This asymmetrical distribution, in practical terms, results in the retention force on one side of the magnets (e.g., 308 and 310) being increased and the magnetic interference on the other being reduced. Retention force is increased because the depicted arrangement of the magnetsAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 produces a flux concentration proximate the skin 132. In the depicted example, magnetic retention force proximate the skin 132 is increased, while magnetic interference away from the skin (e.g., where the sound processor, vibrating actuator, and other components are located) is decreased.

[0072] Each magnet in each magnet group generates its own magnetic field (as will be detailed below, an exemplary embodiment is such that portions 308, 312 and 310 are portions of a monolithic magnet. Together, magnets 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, and 318 form a magnet group (and generate a group magnetic field), although subsets of these magnets (e.g., magnets 308, 310, 312 in the external portion 302; and magnets 314, 316, 318 in the implantable portion 304) can also form magnet groups (and their own group magnetic fields). Moreover, the magnets in each magnet group need not be physically separate components, but can be a unitary part having different magnetization directions, which can be accomplished by the magnetization process. The effect on the magnetic field is depicted in FIG. 3B, where the field is channeled through the magnet 312, so as to reduce stray magnetic flux. Of course, magnet 318 channels the field so the stray flux generated by the implantable magnets 314, 316 is also reduced.

[0073] Magnets having differing form factors and magnetization directions are contemplated. For example, magnets that are diametrically magnetized and magnets that are axially magnetized are contemplated for applications such as bone conduction devices, to maintain a low profile of the auditory prosthesis. In the depicted embodiment, magnets 308, 310, 314, and 316 are axially magnetized so as to have a magnetization direction normal to a transcutaneous interface (i.e., the interface between the external portion and the implantable portion). The magnets 312, 318 are magnetized through the width so as to have a magnetization direction transverse to the magnetization direction of magnets 308, 310, 314, and 316. In examples where a unitary magnet is used, the unitary magnet can be magnetized such that portions thereof are diametrically magnetized, while other portions thereof are axially magnetized. Moreover, each magnet of a given magnet group can physically contact magnets proximate thereto so as to form a continuous flux path within the medical device (or the implanted component), if desired. Other configurations are contemplated and described in more detail below.

[0074] FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a magnet group 600 in accordance with one example of the technology. External magnet group includes magnets 604 a and 604 b, each having an arced form factor with two straight ends or edges, which magnets are axially magnetized.Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1External magnet group 604 also includes a third magnet 604 e, disposed between the ends of magnets 604 a and 604 b. In the depicted example, the third magnet 604 e is in two parts, and, in that regard, can be considered to be two discrete magnets, disposed between different ends of magnets 604 a and 604 b. In other examples, magnet 604 e can be configured as a single part, typically defining a gap 610 therein for receipt of a fixation screw 222 (as depicted in FIG. 2). Magnetization direction ME is depicted, again, in a simplified form as a single vector substantially orthogonal to magnetization directions MA, MB. This magnetization direction ME indicates that the north pole N of magnet 604 e is disposed proximate magnet 604 b, while the south pole S is disposed proximate magnet 604 a. By orienting the poles as such, magnetic flux of the first magnet 604 a is diverted more directly to the second magnet 604 b, via the third magnet 604 e. Similarly, magnet group 606 also includes a third magnet 606 f, disposed between magnets 606 c and 606 d. In the depicted example, magnet 606 f is in two parts, but in other examples, magnet 606 f can be configured as a single part. Magnetization direction Mpis depicted, again, in a simplified form as a single vector substantially orthogonal to magnetization directions Me, MD. This magnetization direction MF indicates that the north pole N of magnet 606 f is disposed proximate magnet 606 c, while the south pole S is disposed proximate magnet 606 d. By orienting the poles as such, magnetic flux of the first magnet 606 d is diverted more directly to the second magnet 606 c, via the third magnet 606 f. It should be noted that the magnetization directions ME and Mr are both substantially parallel and opposed to each other.

[0075] FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the magnet group 600' of FIG. 4A from a different angle. The components are generally numbered consistently with the components of FIG. 4A, and not all elements thereof are necessarily described further.

[0076] The magnets 604a, 604b, 604e of the external magnet group are disposed in a circuit that defines a substantially continuous flux path through the external component. Magnetic flux is channeled along the flux path following the magnetization direction of the respective magnets: from the first end magnet 604a, through the intermediate third magnet 604e, to the second end magnet 604b. This reduces the incidence of stray magnetic flux adjacent the magnet 604e.

[0077] Figure 4A presents two separate elements 606f that are separated by a space. In an exemplary embodiment, the two separate elements are connected to one another by the magnet portions 606d and 606c, consistent with the embodiment of figure 4A. In an exemplary embodiment, adhesive or the like is utilized between the interfacing surfaces ofAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 the magnet portions 606d and 606c, and the respective corresponding portions of 606f. Figure 5A presents an exemplary location where adhesive 620 can be located at the facing surfaces of the respective magnet portions. FIG. 5B depicts another exemplary embodiment that utilizes plates 625 to hold the magnet elements 606f to the magnet portions 606c and 606d. In an exemplary embodiment, these can be plastic plates while in other embodiments these can be metallic plates. In an exemplary embodiment, the plates are bolted or screwed to the respective magnets utilizing bolts / screws 626, while in other embodiments, adhesive is utilized to glue the plates to the magnets. In an exemplary embodiment, there can be plates 625 located on the opposite sides (not shown). The bolts can extend all the way through to the opposite side plates connecting everything together. Any arrangement that can secure the plates to the magnet elements can be utilized in at least some exemplary embodiments.

[0078] In an exemplary embodiment, there are only the three portions that make up the magnet group. In an exemplary embodiment, there are only 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 portions that make up the magnet group.

[0079] As seen in FIG. 5A and 5B, there is no hole through the magnet(s). Such an embodiment can be utilized with, for example, the implantable components where the devices that are utilized to fix the implantable component to the recipient in general, and to bone in particular, are located away from the magnet. Indeed, in an exemplary embodiment, the embodiment of figure 6A could be utilized in a device where there is no component per se that fixes the apparatus to the recipient. By way of example only and not by way of limitation, an implantable portion of a cochlear implant could be located in a recipient in a manner without any true positive retention of the implantable portion to the skull. Instead, in an exemplary embodiment, the pressure between the skin in the skull can be utilized to hold the implantable component in place, or at least the receiver stimulator thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, an excavation of the like in the skull can be utilized to hold the receiver stimulator in the lateral plane and the skin over the receiver stimulator can be utilized to hold the receiver stimulator into that excavation.

[0080] While the embodiments associated with some figures above have been described in terms of three separate magnet portions establishing the magnet group, other embodiments utilize a monolithic single magnet and / or a magnet that combines at least two of the portions into a monolithic component. In this regard, figure 5C depicts an exemplary alternate embodiment of a magnet portion group that comprises magnet portion 606dl, which corresponds to the first magnet portion detailed above and otherwise has the functionality ofAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 magnet 606d. The magnet group also comprises magnet portion 606cl, which corresponds to the second magnet portion detailed above and otherwise has the functionality of magnet 606c. In the middle is the magnet portion 606fl, which corresponds to the third magnet portion detailed above and otherwise has the functionality of magnet 606f. In an exemplary embodiment, the magnet group 699 is a monolithic disk that has a circular outer circumference and a height of less than, more than or equal to 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5. 1.6. 1.7, 1.8. 1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6. 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3.0, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 or 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25 or 30 or more mm or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 mm increments. The diameter can less than greater than or equal to 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7,5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 35, 40, 45 or 50 mm or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 mm increments. This can also be the case for the embodiments herein by way of example in the interests of textual economy.

[0081] While the embodiments described above focused on a three-portion magnet group, in an embodiment, there is instead a two-portion magnet. Indeed, in an embodiment, the external component utilizes the above-noted three-portion magnet group, and the implantable component utilizes a two-portion magnet group. In an embodiment the magnet group can be a straight 4 pole magnet, such as that seen in FIG. 6. In this regard, FIG. 6 presents an exemplary cross-section of a magnet apparatus 600 according to an exemplary embodiment taken through a plane lying on and coplanar with a longitudinal axis 699 of the apparatus, where the apparatus is a planar disk, and thus taken through a central portion of the magnet arrangement. Here, the apparatus is made of two separate magnet elements 610 and 620 that are joined together. More on this in a moment. Also shown in figure 6 are the theoretical poles boundary lines 650 for each element. This is the hypothetical line that divides the north pole from the south pole; everything on one side of the line is the hypothetical magnetic monopole north, and everything on the opposite side of the line is the hypothetical magnetic monopole south. As seen, there are two portions, portion 610 and portion 620, and the polarity of each is opposite that of the other. FIG. 6 shows the magnetic axes and magnetic directions 675 for each element. FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of a four-pole magnet arrangement 700, except here, the theoretical poles boundary lines 750 for each element 710 and 720 are canted relative to a plane normal to the longitudinal axis 699, whereas the theoretical poles boundary is parallel to such a plane in the embodiment of FIG. 6. AlsoAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 shown are the magnetic axes and magnetic directions 775, which are also canted relative to the longitudinal axis 699, which is known.

[0082] Figure 8 presents a top view of magnet arrangement 700 (looking downward with respect to FIG. 7.)

[0083] Shown in FIG. 7 are angles Al, A2, A3 and A4. Angles Al and A3 represent the angle between the plane 707 normal to the longitudinal axis 699 and the magnetic axis / magnetic direction 775. Al and A3 can be (and the values need not be the same), relative to the frame of reference of FIG. 7, greater than, less than and / or equal to, plus or minus 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87 or 88 or 89 degrees or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 degree increments (e.g., 32.2 degrees, 71.6 degrees, 22.2 to 62.6 degrees, etc.), inclusive. Angles A2 and A4 represent the angle between the plane 707 and the theoretical poles boundary line, and the angle can be, and the two need not be the same, greater than, less than and / or equal to, plus or minus 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87 or 88 or 89 degrees or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 degree increments, inclusive. Note that typically, the angle between A2 and Al and A3 and A4 is 90 degrees (the magnetic axis and the boundary line (boundary plane in 3 dimensions) are normal to each other). We present the numbers for A2 and A4 in the interests of completeness, but it is noted that Al = 90 - A2, and A2 = 90 - Al. Note also that in an embodiment, the plane 707 is parallel to the bottom and / or the top surfaces of the arrangement, which can be planar in the embodiment where the magnet arrangement is a planar disk magnet. The angles can be measured from the bottom surface and / or the top surface (or from the longitudinal axis). Here, in this embodiment, the longitudinal axis is 90 degrees to the top surface and the bottom surface of the magnet arrangement.

[0084] The magnet arrangement of FIG. 7 is such that the magnet elements 710 and 720 are magnetically attracted to each other, and thus are held together to establish the magnet apparatus 700.

[0085] Figure 9 presents element 710 (through the thickest portion - this is half of FIG. 7) with dimensions showing how the theoretical poles boundary line is spaced away from both sides of the magnet element (although it can be spaced away from only one or the other side). Here, D910, which is a percentage of the distance D905 (half the diameter of the planar disk in a disk shaped embodiment), can be less than, greater than and / or equal to 0 (in which case,Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 there is no less than) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85,90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 or 99% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments. D920, which is also a percentage of the distance D905, can be less than, greater than and / or equal to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments, providing that D920 is larger than D910. Note that for element 720, these would be reversed for the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 (but the numbers need not be the same and the numbers need not be reversed). But for the embodiment of FIG. 7, where the elements 710 and 720 mirror each other, D910 would be larger than D920. Another way of looking at this is that D910 could instead be the values for D920 and the value for D920 could be the value for D910 (if measured from left to right). FIG. 10 presents element 710 (through the thickest portion - this is half of FIG. 7) with dimensions showing how the theoretical poles boundary line is spaced away from both sides of the magnet element (although it can be spaced away from only one or the other side), but here, this is a different embodiment, where the boundary line does not “breech” the top or bottom, as in FIG. 9. Here, D1010, which is a percentage of the distance DI 005 (the height of the element), can be less than, greater than and / or equal to 0 (in which case, there is no less than) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 or 99% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments. DI 020, which is also a percentage of the distance DI 005, can be less than, greater than and / or equal to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90,91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments, providing that D1020 is larger than D1010. Note that for element 720, these could be reversed, but need not be, and the numbers need not be the same). D1010 could be larger than DI 020. Another way of looking at this is that D1010 could instead be the values for DI 020 and the value for DI 020 could be the value for DI 020 (if measured from bottom to the top).

[0086] It is noted that the above values are presented in a manner of textual economy. Any arrangement that has utilitarian value where the art enables such is intended to be provided support. If the values result in a non-enabled product, that is a result of the textual economy.

[0087] Referring back to FIG. 7, there may be scenarios where Al and A3 are sufficiently large (or not so large) that there exists the possibility that a moment is created, say, about the point where plane 707 contacts axis 699. In this regard, the magnetic attraction in the planeAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1707 might not be enough to overcome the magnetic repulsion in that plane or below or above that plane, depending on the physics. Thus, where the heads of the arrows 775 represent north, the magnet element 710 would have a clockwise moment and the magnet element 720 would have a counterclockwise moment. If the moments are strong enough, the facing surfaces 711 and 721 of the respective elements 710 and 720 will not be in contact with each other, at least not over the entire surface. In this regard, FIG. 11 shows an embodiment where the magnet arrangement 700 is located in a housing 1110, such as a cassette housing for the implantable component, but note that magnet arrangement 700 can be utilized as the implantable magnet in any of the embodiments described above and / or below. Moreover, the magnets of the various figures can be used as the magnet of the external component, and embodiments include, for example, a system with an implanted device and an external device, respectively having the various magnets disclosed herein in an arrangement such that the external device is attracted to the implanted device when the external device is worn against the head of the human. While focus on some embodiments will sometimes be described in terms of the utilization of magnet 687 in the implantable component of a medical device. It is noted that other embodiments can utilize other types of magnets such as those described herein and other types as well, and will often be described in terms of such. It is noted that any of the disclosure described above does not constitute structure corresponding to the innovative features of the present invention, but instead provides a framework for those teachings as will be described below. Accordingly, “means for” language does not cover those descriptions per se without one or more features of the below. That is not to say that the above is not used with “means for.” That is to say that, for example, a means for providing magnetic retention of an external component would not cover arrangement 700, but would cover arrangement 1700 as will now be described.

[0088] Embodiments include a new magnet arrangement that replaces the magnet arrangement 700 of FIG. 11, and thus a new cassette 1160. In the arrangements above, the magnet arrangement 700 rotates within the housing 1110 about axis 799 when exposed to a magnetic field, such as an MRI magnetic field, to provide MRI compatibility. This will also be the case with at least some of the magnet arrangements described below. But when the MRI filed is sufficiently strong and / or at some angles, the magnet elements 710 and 720 can cant and / or “butterfly” within the housing (a moment is placed on the first magnet element in the plane of FIG. 7 and an opposite moment (or at least opposite direction moment) is placed on the second magnet element, causing the magnet elements to rotate in those moments, andAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 hence “butterfuly”), as noted herein. This can cause friction between the arrangement 700 and the housing, and otherwise can result in a higher torque. In an embodiment, arrangement 700 can rotate 360 degrees about axis 799.

[0089] That is, the two halves if separated, and poorly held together and / or if magnetic attraction is used to hold the two halves together, this can allow for relative movement between the magnet elements. This can result in various deleterious issues, such as, for example, the magnet arrangement, when assembled, is assembled in a “staggered” arrangement, which causes additional wear on the inside surfaces of the magnet housing as the magnet arrangement rotates. Wear can also occur on the magnet apparatus. Moreover, the magnet element can “butterfly” as noted above. The magnet element can hinge along the split line when the implant magnet is introduced into an MRI field, as the magnets try to align their field to the MRI machine bore. This can cause deformation to the thin metal surfaces on the skin facing side and / or the skull facing side of the magnet cassette, causing the magnet arrangement to potentially jam and not rotate (or otherwise rotate less than that which would otherwise be the case) to align with the MRI field. This may result in extra torque on the magnet assembly, creating additional risk of skin avulsion and / or pain. Also, deformation of the cassette surfaces may lead to later issues with wear-out. Embodiments herein can reduce and / or eliminate one or more of these scenarios. More on this below.

[0090] Not shown in figure 11 is the silicone body and other components of the implanted component. Also not shown in figure 11 is the external component. In reality, a silicone body could surround the magnet apparatus 1160 (thus supporting the magnet apparatus above the surface of bone 136). Also in reality, structure of the external component would be supporting the external magnet 1104.

[0091] The housing 1110 hermetically isolates the magnet arrangement 700 that is located inside the interior cavity of the housing 1110. The magnet arrangement 700 is depicted as being in contact with the housing wall at the top of the housing 1110. This is owing to the magnetic attraction between the magnet 1104 of the external component and the magnet arrangement 700. In this embodiment, the cavity of the housing 1110 is dimensionally larger in all dimensions then the dimensions of the magnet arrangement 700. This means that there is a space between at least one longitudinal side of the magnet (top or bottom with respect to the view of figure 11) and a space between the lateral side of the magnet (at least with respect to the cross-section shown in figure 11 - in reality, if one side was contacting the sidewall of the housing, because the cross-section of the cavity is circular, there would be only lineAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 contact in the vertical direction in a purely dimensionally stable structure). It thus could be the case that the magnet elements become misaligned (the magnet elements are , whether by butterfly (the elements rotate with the moments, and thus the outboard portions of the magnet arrangement could contact the top of the cavity of the housing, and the inboard ends (the ends closest to the axis 799) could contact the bottom of the cavity of the housing, even when the magnet 1104 is not in magnetic communication with magnet arrangement 700) or by rotation of one or both elements about axis 807, where, with respect to FIG. 8, the top of the half circle at the 12 O’clock position of element 710 would rotate about axis 807 to hit the top of the housing, and the top of the half circle at the 12 O’clock position of element 720 would rotate about that axis to hit the bottom of the housing, and vis-a-versa for the portions at the 6 O’clock position. Movement in the horizontal and / or vertical direction or in another direction between the elements could also occur. These scenarios can result in increased friction forces between the housing interior and the magnet arrangement, which can detract from the ability of the magnet arrangement 700 to rotate in the housing when exposed to an MRI magnetic field (where the external component is not on the person - only the implantable portion is in the MRI machine and thus subjected to the MRI magnetic field).

[0092] When the magnet arrangement is subjected to an MRI B0 field, the two halves are free to slide relative to each other. The direction of the B0 MRI field could mean that each half twists out of plane, which causes them to press on the hermetic casing (interior thereof). This causes friction and incomplete rotational alignment with B0, which in turn, generates additional torque that can be transferred to the recipient tissue and may cause pain. This is in addition or alternatively to the general scenario where internally generated forces cause magnet elements to displace relative to each other. Beyond those mentioned above, even where there is a low relative value of Al and A3, the angles for each half can never be perfect mirror images (e.g., one may be at 29 degrees, and the other at 30 degrees). This means the magnet elements will not sit flush, which means more space is taken up in the hermetic cavity and clearance is reduced. The effect is that larger assemblies are required to allow freedom of rotation, or an increase in interference rate occurs which can affect longevity of parts.

[0093] Thus, there is utilitarian value in connecting the two magnet elements together to prevent relative movement of the two elements, and, in some embodiments, having a magnet arrangement that is monolithic or at least quasi-monolithic (as opposed to the arrangement of FIG. 5B for example). Note that while embodiments herein focus on the implantable magnet arrangement, embodiments are also applicable to other magnet arrangements, such as theAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 magnet 1104, and other magnets used other than in medical devices / with medical devices. Embodiments include magnet arrangements for any utilitarian purpose.

[0094] In this regard, in an embodiment, there is an arrangement where the two magnetic element halves of say a two element magnet arrangement (or three elements in a three element magnet arrangement) are connected together by more than their magnetic attraction forces. In some embodiments, an adhesive (glue or epoxy, etc.) can be used. And while embodiments include such, there still exists a scenario where the element halves / elements will want to cant relative to each other, and thus a fixture is needed during manufacturing which is highly tolerance. Embodiments can thus include joining magnet precursors after the grain direction / particle direction has been set via more permanent methods (such as sintering, brazing or welding). Joining methods can involve heat, including relatively high heat, which would ordinarily cause demagnetization on a finished magnet part. The joining method can be without the highly tolerance fixture, or any fixture in some embodiments. In an embodiment, only standard pressing and / or heat is used to join the elements. The joining occurs prior to magnetization, or at least prior to magnetization to saturation, or at least prior to magnetization to a strength of more than and / or equal to 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 85 or 80% or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments of saturation.

[0095] In an embodiment, two or more magnet elements or magnet precursors (or elements made of a magnetic material and / or a magnetizable material, elements made of a ferromagnetic material or an analogous material or a material that can enable the teachings herein, which could be a ferrimagnetic material in some instances), comprising two or more different grain directions / particle directions, are fused together to prevent relative movement of each sub-piece (the respective elements) due to external and / or internal magnetic fields. The fusion may occur before or after final magnetization. Fusion of magnet precursors prior to final magnetization (e.g., to saturation or close to saturation, or a value above those noted in the prior paragraph for example) allows for high-heat fusion processes to be used, and circumvents the typical issue of demagnetization. While the embodiments below will be described in terms of the two magnet element arrangement based on FIG. 7, the teachings can be applicable to the three-piece magnet of FIG. 5 A, or a 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12 or 13 or 14 or 15 or more piece / element (initial precursor) / portion arrangement, where one or more or all of the respective precursors have different grain directions / different particle directions from another one or more or all precursors. In an embodiment,Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 by way of example only and not by way of limitation, joining techniques include that which results from (and using) sintering, brazing, soldering and / or welding, individually and / or in one or more combinations. In an embodiment, heat can be used to fuse braze material with the magnetizable material. In an embodiment, the first and second magnetizable elements can be laser welded together.

[0096] Embodiments can also include welding a thin shim to one or both of the planar top / bottom surfaces, glue / epoxy to the facing / contacting surfaces and / or the use of glue / epoxy a thin shim to one or both of the planar top / bottom surfaces. The shim can be less than or equal to 30, 25, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 or 2 micrometers or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.25 micrometer increments.

[0097] Fusing the magnet precursors and then magnetizing the precursors can reduce the MRI torque imparted on the implanted portion and / or can reduce the size of the overall part relative to that which would otherwise be the case, all other things being equal, by preventing offsets (as opposed to limiting offsets) due to internal fields, and can have utilitarian value with respect to manufacturability and assembly of the final component (for example, there could be a “need” to only inspect and assemble one piece rather than multiple pieces). This can also enable different configurations, such as by combining magnet element precursors with differing magnetizations in one arrangement which can skew the magnetic field to, for example, avoid saturating sensitive components in the external sound processor for example, or other equipment.

[0098] In at least some embodiments, fusing the magnet halves (or thirds or portions, etc.) together will prevent relative motion and reduce the MRI torque transferred to a recipient (thus avoiding discomfort or in extreme cases and / or can increase the risk of migration of the implanted portion). Also, for example, by fusing each portion together in the ideal relationship with each other, clearance in the cavity of the housing can be maintained (and space is a premium when designing components that need to move freely but also be small, such as an implanted portion where the magnet rotates about its longitudinal axis, such as the embodiments herein).

[0099] In an embodiment, the action of fusing is performed before magnetization. In this arrangement, high-heat fusion methods can be employed that would usually be unavailable (heat can cause demagnetization). Brazing could be used to join the elements. Note thatAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 embodiments can include joining by “dry" operations which are less likely to degrade over time relative to “non-dry” operations.[ooioo] In view of the above, with reference to figure 12A, there is an exemplary method represented by the flowchart 1201, which includes method action 1211, which includes obtaining a first element having a first particle direction / magnetic particle direction and method action 1221, which includes obtaining a second element having a second particle direction. (It is noted that the art sometimes refers to grain direction instead of particle direction, and vis-a-versa. We adopt particle direction, but any disclosure herein of particle direction corresponds to a disclosure of grain direction which can be oriented to achieve the magnetic directions and pole directions desired upon magnetization. As a standard process, the act of aligning the particles has technically magnetized the material a bit already (albeit weakly - further details below). The elements are typically demagnetized during the rest of the typical heated manufacturing processes, before being properly magnetized, typically occurring at the end of the process (which is the magnetization of method action 1241). Particle direction is the orientation of the raw material grains, which is arranged with an aligning field, before the orientation is set in place (usually via sintering, but other processing techniques can be utilized).) In an exemplary embodiment, this can entail obtaining the first element and the second element of the magnet arrangement 700 detailed above.[ooioi] In an exemplary embodiment, the first element is a magnetizable element and the second element is a magnetizable element. More on this below.

[0102] In an embodiment, the first element and second element can be respective blocks of material or respective bodies of material that has been sintered and / or can be sintered. This sintering of the material locks in the particle directions.

[0103] In an exemplary embodiment, the first element and the second element can be a block of pre sintered powder that can be sintered but has not yet been sintered. In an exemplary embodiment, the first element and the second element can be a block of pre particle direction locked material that can be treated to lock the particle directions in accordance with the teachings herein. Note that while sintering is often the focus of the treatment to lock particle directions, other techniques can be used providing that the art enables such.

[0104] Method 1201 further includes method action 1231, which includes the action of connecting the first element to the second element to obtain an arrangement. This can be accomplished by any of the connection techniques detailed herein and any other techniqueAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 that can enable the teachings herein. This can be accomplished by welding or sintering or braising or by utilizing an adhesive or utilizing shims detailed above by way of example.

[0105] In an embodiment, the first element and the second element remain distinct elements in the resulting arrangement, which will be the case after connection using adhesives for example. In an embodiment using one or more other connection techniques, this may not be the case. The resulting arrangement will have a first portion and a second portion, where the first portion and the second portion spatially correspond to the locations of the first magnetizable elements and the second magnetizable elements, whether they are or are not distinct bodies. As will be detailed below, the magnetic properties of the portions can be used to identify the portions.

[0106] In an embodiment, the first and second elements can be held in a jig / fixture, and braze material can be located in between the elements. A brazing operation can be executed to connect the first and second elements. But some embodiments do not use such.

[0107] In an exemplary embodiment, the action of connecting includes directly connecting the first element to the second element. In an exemplary embodiment, depending on the number of elements, any one or more of the elements can be directly connected to any one or more of the other elements providing that such is enabled with respect to the shape, etc. In an exemplary embodiment, the action of connecting includes only indirectly connecting the first element to the second magnetizable element (e.g., by way of the shim). In an exemplary embodiment, any one of the elements can be indirectly connected to any one or more of the other elements. In this regard, in the interest of textual economy, with respect to the aforementioned numerical values of the number of elements, any one or more of those elements can be directly or indirectly connected to any one or the other elements depending on a given embodiment providing that the art enables such.

[0108] In any event, however the first and second elements are connected, method 1201 proceeds to method action 1241, which includes magnetizing the first portion and the second portion / magnetizing the arrangement after method action 1231 is completed.

[0109] In an exemplary embodiment, the action of connecting is executed simultaneously or very close thereto with an action of stabilizing the particle directions / locking the particle directions in place. In this regard, in an exemplary embodiment, prior to the action of connecting, the particle directions are established for the respective elements. This can be part of the action of obtaining the first and second elements, or could be done prior thereto orAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 after obtaining such elements. This can be done before the action of connecting and / or stabilizing. In an exemplary embodiment, the action of connecting and the action of stabilizing particle directions occur within 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 minutes or within 50, 40, 35, 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0.75 or 0.5 seconds or any value or range arise therebetween in 0.1 second increments.

[0110] In an exemplary embodiment, the action of connecting is potentially indistinguishable from the action of stabilizing the particle directions. In an exemplary embodiment, there can be one or more sintering stages that are executed back to back to accomplish the actions of connecting and stabilizing.[oom] Herein, reference is often made to magnetizable elements and / or magnetizable portions. In some embodiments, consistent with method 1201, the elements need not necessarily be magnetizable when the elements are obtained or otherwise after the elements are obtained. Specifically, it could be that the action of, for example, connecting the first elements of the second element to obtain arrangement of method action 1231 occurs where the first element in the second element are not necessarily magnetizable at the time of connecting. Yet in other embodiments, such as the embodiment of method 1200, which will now be described, the obtained elements are magnetizable elements. And note that in some embodiments, it could be that the obtained elements are not magnetizable elements, but the action of connecting the first elements of the second element in method action 1231 includes connecting a first magnetizable element to the magnetizable element to obtain the arrangement, where, for example, there is a method action of magnetizing the first element and the second element after the actions of obtaining the first element and / or the second element. Accordingly, in the interest of textual economy, any disclosure herein of a magnetizable and / or magnetized element and / or such body or portion corresponds to an alternate disclosure where the body and / or element and / or portion is not magnetizable and / or is not magnetized, respectively, providing that the art enable such, unless otherwise noted. Proceeding forward, for the most part, reference will be made to magnetizable elements and / or magnetizable portions and / or magnetized portions and / or magnetized elements, etc., All in the interest of textual economy, but the disclosure of one corresponds to a disclosure of the other is just noted, again providing that the art enables such, again unless otherwise noted.

[0112] With reference to figure 12, there is an exemplary method represented by the flowchart 1200, which includes method action 1210, which includes obtaining a first magnetizable element (herein, any disclosure of an element corresponds to a disclosure of aAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 magnetizable element and vis-a-versa, unless otherwise noted, providing that the art enable such, in the interests of textual economy) having a first particle direction and method action 1220, which includes obtaining a second magnetizable element having a second particle direction. These could be already sintered blocks in some embodiments. (It is noted that the art sometimes refers to grain direction instead of particle direction, and vis-a-versa. We adopt particle direction, but any disclosure herein of particle direction corresponds to a disclosure of grain direction which can be oriented to achieve the magnetic directions and pole directions desired upon magnetization.) In an exemplary embodiment, this can entail obtaining the first magnet element and the second magnet element of the magnet arrangement 700 detailed above. In this regard, in an exemplary embodiment, the first and second magnet elements that are obtained can have a half-moon shape such as element 1390 shown in figure 13. Here, from a top view, magnetizable element 1390 is essentially a perfect half circle (or slightly smaller or large, depending on whether there could be some shrinkage or material use to make the ultimate magnet arrangement). In an embodiment, element 1390 can correspond to element 710 and element 720, which, when joined, can make up the magnet arrangement 700. Other shapes can correspond to the first magnet element in the second magnet element obtained in method 1200. The shapes can be box shapes or rectangular shapes or half oval shapes, etc. Any shape that has utilitarian value with respect to a magnet arrangement can be utilized in at least some exemplary embodiments, providing that the art enables such. And note that the shape of the first element need not be the same as the shape of the second element. Here, the half-moon shape is utilized because when placed against another halfmoon shape, and properly aligned, the result is a planar disk after the two are connected. The resulting planar disk has a circular outer profile, or at least an outer profile that is sufficiently circular / has circular characteristics so as to enable placement of the resulting magnet arrangement in a housing that has a circular cavity that is slightly larger than the outer dimensions of the magnet arrangement so that the magnet arrangement can rotate within the housing when exposed to a magnetic field, such as an MRI magnetic field, and thus provide MRI compatibility for implantable component of the medical device.

[0113] And note further that while the exemplary method under discussion focuses on two magnetizable elements (the elements 710 and 720 are not yet magnetized, or at least not to saturation / they may have the various values noted above in some embodiments, but probably not), as noted above, in some other embodiments, three or more magnetizable elements can be obtained to implement a variation of this method. In an embodiment, theAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 method includes obtaining less, than, greater than and / or equal to 2 (in which case there is no less than - herein, if we use textual economy, and it is to be understood that logic applies), 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 or 50 or more or any value or range of values therebetween in 1 increments elements, where one or more or all of these elements are magnetizable elements. (In some embodiments, not all the elements obtained are magnetizable. In this method, there are at least two elements that are magnetizable. In an embodiment, any subset of the aforementioned numbers material that is not magnetizable or material that is magnetizable.) Thus, in an embodiment, these magnetizable elements can be considered precursors components of the resulting magnet assembly that is to be made in some embodiments.

[0114] Method 1200 further includes method action 1230, which includes the action of connecting the first magnetizable element to the second magnetizable element to obtain a magnetizable arrangement. This can be accomplished by any of the connection techniques detailed herein and any other technique that can enable the teachings herein. This can be accomplished by welding or sintering or braising or by utilizing an adhesive or utilizing shims detailed above by way of example. This can also be accomplished utilizing other mechanical means, such as, for example, a dowel pin interference fit, where, for example, blind holes (or not blind holes for that matter and instead through holes) or boring into the respective elements on the sides facing each other (or more accurately, on the sides that will face each other), and dowel pins are inserted into these holes with a slight interference fit, on one or both of the elements (where corresponding holes of the other element would not have the dowel therein) and then the elements are brought together so that the dowels goes into the respective holes of the other element(s) in the resulting interference fit connects the two elements together. In an exemplary embodiment, two or more dowel pins are utilized so as to prevent a scenario where one element will rotate relative to the other element, but in some embodiments, a sufficiently strong interference fit can be utilized where a single dowel pin can enable utilitarian value. In an exemplary embodiment, the dowel pin(s) can also be magnetizable elements, and can be magnetized according to some of the embodiments herein. In some embodiments, smaller pins rather than larger pins can have utilitarian value so that the amount of magnetic material removed to establish the holes is limited relative to that which is otherwise the case so as to increase the magnetic force of the resulting magnet arrangement (hence the utilitarian value of using magnetizable dowel pins).Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1

[0115] In an embodiment, the first magnetizable element and the second magnetizable element remain distinct elements in the resulting magnetizable arrangement, which will be the case after connection using adhesives for example. In an embodiment using one or more other connection techniques, this may not be the case. The resulting magnetizable arrangement will have a first portion and a second portion, where the first portion and the second portion spatially correspond to the locations of the first magnetizable elements and the second magnetizable elements, whether they are or are not distinct bodies. As will be detailed below, the magnetic properties of the portions can be used to identify the portions.

[0116] In an embodiment, the first and second elements can be held in a jig / fixture, and braze material can be located in between the elements. A brazing operation can be executed to connect the first and second elements. But some embodiments do not use such.

[0117] In an exemplary embodiment, the action of connecting includes directly connecting the first element to the second element. In an exemplary embodiment, depending on the number of elements, any one or more of the elements can be directly connected to any one or more of the other elements providing that such is enabled with respect to the shape, etc. In an exemplary embodiment, the action of connecting includes only indirectly connecting the first magnetizable elements of the second magnetizable element (e.g., by way of the shim). In an exemplary embodiment, any one of the elements can be indirectly connected to any one or more of the other elements. In this regard, in the interest of textual economy, with respect to the aforementioned numerical values of the number of elements, any one or more of those elements can be directly or indirectly connected to any one or the other elements depending on a given embodiment providing that the art enables such.

[0118] In any event, however the first and second magnetizable elements are connected, method 1200 proceeds to method action 1240, which includes magnetizing the first magnetizable portion and the second magnetizable portion / magnetizing the magnetizable arrangement after method action 1230 is completed.

[0119] With reference to the utilization of half-moon shapes, in an embodiment where the first and second elements are respective half-moon shapes, the action of connecting results in the half-moon shapes forming a disk shape as noted above. The resulting formed shape can be different than a disk if other shapes of the first and second elements are utilized. Regardless of the resulting shape, in an exemplary embodiment, after the action of connecting the first magnetizable element with the second magnetizable element, the firstAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 particle direction of the first element is a different direction than the second particle direction of the second element.

[0120] Thus, there are particles having respective axes of magnetic alignment that are different. In an exemplary embodiment, prior to the action of connecting, and as part of, in some embodiments, the action of obtaining the first magnetizable element and the second magnetizable element (but note that actions 1210 and 1220 can be part of a process that includes making the first and second elements, while in other embodiments, the method actions can be established by acquiring the first and second elements having the respective particle directions) includes making those elements. In an exemplary embodiment, material such as neodymium, iron, boron and other minor elements are obtained in desired quantities, and through a series of traditional manufacturing processes (or variations thereto) associated with the manufacture of permanent magnets, a powder is obtained, such as from jet milling for example, which powder can be used to make the magnetizable elements. It is briefly noted that the aforementioned materials are but exemplary materials and other materials can be utilized, such as any material that can enable the teachings detailed herein. In at least some exemplary embodiments, biocompatible materials are utilized, or at least materials that are not significantly dangerous if exposed to body fluids because at least some embodiments herein utilize the resulting magnetic arrangement in the implantable portion of a medical device.

[0121] The powder is consolidated into a green compact (for example, the power can be placed into a press or a mold while under the influence of an inert gas, and a pressing operation can be implemented) while aligning particles thereof to have mutually parallel easy axes magnetic alignment. In an exemplary embodiment, a magnetic field is applied prior to and / or during compaction of the powder. In an embodiment, the magnetic field that is utilized to achieve the alignment and otherwise the particle directions has a strength of X. In an embodiment, the applied magnetic field affects most of the particles (which includes all particles) and then the applied field interacts with the magnetic particles causing them to rotate into alignment. Any field strength or type of field and / or directionality of a field that will result in an alignment of the particles to achieve the given directions can be utilized in at least some exemplary embodiments. These green compacts are then sintered in an exemplary embodiment. The alignment is maintained or at least effectively maintained during sintering in at least some exemplary embodiments. In an exemplary embodiment, the resulting magnetizable element has a particle alignment of at least and / or equal to 80, 81, 82, 83, 84,Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC185, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments of a perfect alignment. In an embodiment, at least and / or equal to 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments of the particles of the magnetizable element have an alignment that is within less than and / or equal to 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.5, 2, 1.5, 1.25, 1, 0.75, 0.5, 0.25 or 0.1 degrees or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.05 degree increments of each other.

[0122] In an embodiment, the powder pressing and particle orientation occurs by pressing a compilation of the pertinent material at the desired angle of particle orientation / direction. Alternatively, the desired angle can be achieved by cutting a sub volume from the overall volume of the resulting pressed compilation (more on this below).

[0123] Any mechanism in which the domains are prevented from rotating (or rotating an effective amount / an amount that detracts from the ultimate process in a meaningful manner) can be utilized in at least some exemplary embodiments.

[0124] Granted, particle direction is relative, and can require an apples to apples comparison, or at least requires the same frame of reference. In this regard, the particle directions of the first and second magnetizable elements can be compared to each other when the first and second magnetizable elements are aligned and otherwise positioned as they would be after the connection process. In this regard, after the connection process, in an exemplary embodiment, the average (mean, median and / or mode) particle direction of one magnetizable element is less than, greater than and / or equal to Z degrees different from the average particle direction of another magnetizable element, where Z equals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37,38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62,63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87,88, or 89 or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 degree increments. Note that in some embodiments, the directions can be off by 90 degrees (see below for an example). Note that the directions are absolute - 91 degrees is 1 degree offset.

[0125] These angles can be measured in one plane. This can be the case as measured in two planes, a first of which is orthogonal to the second plane. One of these planes can lie on and be coincident with the longitudinal axis 699 of the connected magnetizable elements and / or can lie on and be coincident with the axis 807. The values need not be the same in bothAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 planes. Also, this can be an aggregate direction from any frame of reference. In an embodiment, at least and / or equal to 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments of the particles in one element have the given aforementioned alignment quality relative to at least and / or equal to 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments of the particles in one other element and / or relative to a frame of reference. For example, at least 85% of the particles in the first element can have a particle direction that is at least 60 degrees and / or at least 57 degrees and no more than 63 degrees (inclusive) from the particle directions of 90% of the second element (after the two are connected).

[0126] Note that the application of the magnetic field having the strength X is not part of the action of magnetizing in method action 1240. That is a particle alignment field. The action of magnetizing in method action 1240 entails in an exemplary embodiment the application of a massive magnetic field (as opposed to for example a strong magnetic field having a strength X). This massive field is brief in some embodiments. This can be achieved via an electric coil, and when the coil is depowered, the magnetizable elements become magnetized with polarities and magnetic directions according to the particle alignment achieved when the magnetic field of strength X was applied. In an embodiment, the magnetization field has a strength Y. This can be many times stronger than X.

[0127] In an exemplary embodiment, after the action of connecting the first magnetizable element to the second magnetizable element to form the disk shape (or whatever shape results - again, embodiments included shapes different from a disk shape after attachment), the first particle direction (whatever qualification is used, such as median for example) is at least Z degrees different from the second particle direction, where Z is noted above.

[0128] In an embodiment, the action of connecting is direct adhesive bonding of the first element to the second element and / or mechanical connection of the first element to the second element (as opposed to the fusion methods, such as sintering).

[0129] Note that while the discussion up to now has been focused on a shape of the first element and the second element that has a shape that corresponds to at least a portion of the resulting magnet arrangement at the time that the particle directions are imparted onto the elements, in another exemplary embodiment, the first element and the second element (and other elements for that matter) can have general shapes (e.g., a square cube or a rectangularAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 cube, etc.), and then the particle directions can be imparted thereto, and then the shape of the magnetizable elements of the elements to be connected to each other can be machined from these various elements.

[0130] Indeed, in an exemplary embodiment, a single block of precursor material can be obtained that has a first particle direction (which can have any of the qualities detailed herein however measured / gauged). This single block can then be machined to achieve a first magnetizable element and a second magnetizable element, which can be, for example, in the shape of half-moons. The elements can be machined so that the particle orientations are different when the two elements are connected. In this regard, if say the single block precursor material is a square cube with the particle direction parallel to one of the faces of the cube, say the bottom face, the cube would be rotated for example, 20 or 30 or 40 degrees so that the bottom face is now the respective angle from the horizontal, and thus the particle direction is now the respective angle from the horizontal. The cube can be machined so that a half-moon shaped magnetizable element is obtained from a sub volume of the square cube where the bottom face of the half-moon and the top face of the half-moon (the faces that are the same in shape, as opposed to the half circle surface and the flat surface that faces the mating surface of the other half moon when connected thereto) are parallel to the horizontal (the sub volume is a hypothetical volume that exist in the cube which is a volume larger than the sub volume - this is analogous to the concept that Michaelangelo’s David was always in the marble body, and he simply exposed the statue). The resulting half-moon body thus has a particle orientation of 30° relative to the flat bottom surface with the flat top surface, such as that seen in figure 14, which is a cross-section through element 710 lying on a plane that is coincident with line 807 that extends into and out of the page of FIG. 8. The angle A5 is the particle direction (represented by lines 1410) and can be any of the angles detailed herein by way of textual economy (relative to the horizontal). In an embodiment, two half-moons can be machined from the same cube, one on top of the other, and then one can be rotated 180 degrees about a first axis and then 180 degrees about a second axis normal to the first axis and then placed to abut the other as seen in FIG. 15, thus resulting in particle directions that are angled as shown and thus effectively mirrors of each other. (This figure can be considered to scale, and thus the particle direction of element 720 mirrors that of element 710.) The second element could be machined with the cube at a different angle, to get different particle angles from that of first element.Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1

[0131] In an embodiment, two large magnetizable elements can be connected, and then the desired end shape of the magnetizable arrangement can be machined from the resulting connected elements. For example, two cubes having respective particle directions can be connected to each other. Then, a disk can be machined therefrom. There are never any halfmoos, or at least not any half-moons that are not connected to each other. (Unless one considers the concept that the sub volumes in the form of half-moons were always in the respective cubes.) This can be utilitarian in that only one large part need be connected to one other large part. There is thus one connection action from which many magnetizable arrangements can be obtained. The magnetization could occur before or after the machining.

[0132] In an embodiment, the particle directions correspond to the magnetic directions / magnetic axes of the magnetized magnetic arrangement. In the interests of textual economy, any disclosure of a particle direction corresponds to a disclosure of a magnetic direction / magnetic axis alignment, unless otherwise noted, provided that the art enables such. Note that in some embodiments, the magnetic direction may differ from the particle direction, depending on whether additional factors are involved (e.g., another magnet is present). Also, in some embodiments, the theoretical poles boundary line is normal to the particle direction and / or the magnetic direction / axis. In an exemplary embodiment, because the theoretical poles boundary lines will be different if the magnet portion or magnet element is separated into two or more pieces, there are multiple theoretical poles boundary lines that can exist with respect to theoretical divisions of the given portion or element. Accordingly, in an exemplary embodiment, there exists theoretical divisional theoretical poles boundary lines for the potential theoretical divisions, and these boundary lines can be normal to the local magnetic axes and / or the local particle directions. Thus, embodiments can be described in terms of the theoretical divisional theoretical poles boundary line which result from the theoretical divisions of the given portion and / or element.

[0133] In an embodiment, cutting and / or grinding can be utilized to machine the final shape of the magnetizable elements.

[0134] In an embodiment, after method action 1230, but before method action 1240, the magnetizable arrangement can be coated with a corrosion preventative material, for example. In some embodiments, this can be done after method action 1240.

[0135] FIG. 16 shows an exemplary magnetization process where multiple magnetizable arrangements having portions 710 and 720 are magnetized at one time in a variation ofAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 method action 1240. The magnetizing field 1616 is not exactly aligned with the particle direction. In an embodiment, to account for the misalignment which may exist, the magnetizing field power can be higher than normally used / that which would be the case if there was only one particle direction and the filed was aligned therewith. In an embodiment, relative to the only one particle direction with alignment of the field to within 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 degrees, the power of the field is less than, greater than and / or equal to 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190 or 200% or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments more. In an embodiment, the magnetizing field is less than, greater than and / or equal to 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20 T or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 T increments.

[0136] As a result of method 1200, a magnet arrangement 1700 can be achieved, such as that shown in FIG. 17, where method action 1230 is executed using for example, heat fusion, which has magnet portions 1710 and 1720, spatially corresponding to the previous locations of magnet elements 1510 and 1520, respectively (the boundaries of the portions is at least about where the dashed line is located). In an embodiment, magnet arrangement 1700 is used in place of arrangement 700 in the magnet apparatus 1160 of FIG. 11 for example. Any magnet arrangement disclosed herein or variation thereof can be used in the embodiment of FIG. 11, unless otherwise noted, provided that the art enables such.

[0137] FIG. 18 presents a flowchart for another exemplary method, method 1800. Method 1800 is a method of making a magnet arrangement that includes at least two distinct magnetic portions, such as portions 1710 and 1720 above, but in an exemplary embodiment, the resulting magnet arrangement can have three or four or five or six or more magnet portions. Any of the number of magnet elements detailed herein can be transformed to the magnet portions in an exemplary embodiment, providing that the art enables, unless otherwise noted. Any disclosure herein of connecting a magnet element to another magnet element or a plurality of magnet elements or otherwise having one magnet element abut another magnet element or plurality of magnet elements corresponds to transforming such into respective magnet portions, providing the art enable such. Herien, any reference to a magnet element and / or magnetizable element and / or a magnetizable portion and / or a magnetized portion corresponds to a disclosure of the other in the interest of textual economy.

[0138] Method 1800 utilizes method actions 1210, 1211, 1220 and / or 1221 by way of example. These method actions can be executed according to any of the teachings detailedAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 herein, such as, for example, by purchasing the first and second magnetizable elements having the respective particle directions (and note that the particle direction need not be different with respect to the magnet elements, at least prior to connecting or otherwise placing one magnet element against the other magnet element, or otherwise positioning the two magnet elements in preparation for connecting - as noted above, the resulting particle directions in the established so that they are different by taking what would otherwise be identical magnetizable elements and manipulating that magnetizable element in space so that the particle directions are different). In an embodiment, consistent with the teachings herein, the first and / or second element is made of magnetic material. In an embodiment, the elements are pure magnetic material elements. In an exemplary embodiment, the elements are effectively entirely made up of magnetic material. In an exemplary embodiment, the elements comprise by volume and / or by mass at least 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 99.25, 99.5 or 99.75% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01% increments magnetic material. In an embodiment, there can be material that holds the particles together for example prior to sintering or whatever processing is used to solidify the material into a magnet precursor for example, in some embodiments, which material that holds the particles together might not be magnetic material. And consistent with all of the disclosure herein, this disclosure is not simply limited to the method 1800; this can be applicable to method 1200 / 1201, etc., or any of the other methods detailed herein in the interest of textual economy. Method 1800 further includes method action 1830, which includes the action of joining utilizing heat, the first element to the second element. In an exemplary embodiment, the magnet arrangement resulting from method 1800 has a first portion corresponding to a spatial location of the first element at the time of joining and a second portion corresponding to a spatial location of the second element at the time of joining. (In an embodiment, the least two distinct magnetic portions of the magnet arrangement include the first portion and the second portion.) Granted, there may be some movement and / or shrinkage. However, the spatial locations are sufficiently the same so that one could ascertain the spatial relationships. Indeed, this is consistent with the teachings detailed above. In an exemplary embodiment, the locations of the first portion and the second portion can be determined utilizing magnetic paper and / or x-rays and / or by evaluating the particle directions, or by destructive testing, or by chemical testing. In this regard, it could be that the action of heat joining reduces or otherwise eliminates the distinct boundaries of the first element and the second element. By way of example only and not by way of limitation, the utilization of adhesive would still render the first element in the secondAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 element immediately identifiable owing to the clear demarcation of the boundaries between the two elements, if only by destruct testing (one could cut into the arrangement), although destruct test may not be needed. By analogy, a brick wall can be evaluated to determine the location of each brick. The boundaries of each brick are clear and are not disturbed by the mortar between the bricks. Conversely, sintering the first element to the second element can result in the boundary of the first element in the second element merging with each other so that there is no true boundary between the two. In this regard, in an exemplary embodiment, if the magnet arrangement was cut on line / plane 807, there might not be a visible demarcation between the first and second portion. Indeed, in some exemplary embodiments, the resulting magnet is such that the first portion is monolithic with the second portion. That is, the magnet arrangement is a monolithic body. (But note that this is not always the case, depending on the type of connection process that is utilized.) This is distinguished from, for example, that which happens with respect to utilization of adhesives or the shim, even if the shim is welded to the elements.

[0139] It is noted that in at least some exemplary embodiments, there could be local portions of the former (magnetizable) elements where the particle directions have changed relative to that which would be the case with respect to those particles prior to method action 1830. This can be a result of the utilization of heat. That is, it could be that at the local locations, the particle directions at the area where the two elements are jointed together change relative to the original particle directions for those particles (e.g., the particles in the spatial area at issue). Thus, in some embodiments, there could be a local change of particle directions. However, for the most part, the particles of the former first element and now first portion or the same directions as the particles of the former second element in all second portion of the magnet arrangement. Accordingly, in an embodiment, the resulting magnet apparatus (or magnetizable arrangement prior to magnetization) has at least two portions, which portions make up, respectively, less than, greater than and / or equal to 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 70, 75, 80 or 85 % or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments of the total volume of the resulting magnet arrangement (or magnetizable arrangement (what is present after the two elements are joined by magnetization has not yet occurred, for example) - in the interest of textual economy any pertinent disclosure herein relating to a feature prior to the action of magnetizing constitutes a disclosure of that feature being present with respect to the post-magnetized arrangement and vice versa, providing that the art enablesAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 such, unless otherwise noted, and any disclosure herein associated with a magnetizable element or magnetizable portion or magnetized portion corresponds to a disclosure of that feature being present after the action of connecting relative to the spatial locations associated with the element or portion, and vice versa, providing that the art enable such, unless otherwise noted), where the respective portions have the particle directions associated with the first and second elements, respectively, and the values need not be the same for both elements / portions. In an embodiment, a relative volume of the first element at the time just before connection is less than, greater than and / or equal to 10, 15, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30,31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55,56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80,81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments of the volume of the second element and visa-versa (and in the interests of textual economy, this can be the case for the first and second portions after the connection action in general, and method action 1830 in particular). This can be applicable to arrangements that have three or more portions.

[0140] In an embodiment, the first portion and the second portion can have any of the values detailed herein for the particle directions (the two need not be the same), in the interests of textual economy.

[0141] The above has focused on scenarios where there are only two magnetizable elements. In an embodiment, there can be more than two elements, as noted. Accordingly, in an embodiment, the resulting magnet arrangement and / or magnetizable arrangement has less than, greater than and / or equal to 2 (in which case there is no less than), 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 30, 35 or 40 or more or any value or range of values therebetween in 1 increment magnetizable portions (or magnetized portions in the interest of textual economy - the teachings can be applicable to post-magnetization). In an embodiment, one or more or all of these portions can have any of the values detailed herein with respect to the two portion arrangement / two element arrangement noted herein relative to another portion or relative to all of the other portions, unless otherwise noted, providing that the art enables such.

[0142] In an exemplary embodiment, there is a magnetizable arrangement and / or magnet arrangement (the arrangement that has been magnetized) that has a portion that constitutes less than, greater than and / or equal to 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC116, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.05% increments of the total volume of the magnet arrangement and / or magnetizable arrangement that has a particle direction that is different from the particle direction of the first portion and / or the second portion. This portion can have any of the values for particle directions for a portion detailed herein, in the interests of textual economy, providing that the art enables such (the given value - the entire range might not be enabled). This portion can have a particle alignment of less than and / or equal to 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75 or 80% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments of a perfect alignment. In an embodiment, less than and / or equal to 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75 or 80% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments of the particles of the portion under discussion have an alignment that is within less than and / or equal to 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.5, 2, 1.5, 1.25, 1, 0.75, 0.5, 0.25 or 0.1 degrees or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.05 degree increments of each other.

[0143] In this regard, the particle directions of the portion under discussion can be compared to that of the first and / or second portions (which can be larger than the portion under discussion, singularly and / or collectively) can be compared to each other after the connecting action after the magnetizable and / or magnetized arrangement has been established. In this regard, after the connection process, in an exemplary embodiment, the average (mean, median and / or mode) particle direction of the portion under discussion is less than, greater than and / or equal to Z degrees different from the average particle direction of one or both of the first or second portions. Concomitant with the teachings above, this can be measured in any of the frames of reference detailed herein. In an embodiment, at least and / or equal to 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments of the particles of the portion under discussion have the given aforementioned alignment quality relative to at least and / or equal to 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments of the particles in the other portion or both portions.

[0144] As noted above, it could be that there is a portion of the magnetizable arrangement and / or the magnet arrangement that has the spatial locations of a portion of the first and / or second element where the particle directions are different from that which was the case prior to method action 1830. This portion could be the portion under discussion in the above. ThisAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 portion can be a portion that does not exist prior to the action of connecting / action 1830, but exists afterwards.

[0145] Returning back to method 1800, in an embodiment, magnetization direction of the first portion of the magnet arrangement is one of obliquely angled or orthogonal relative to a magnetization direction of the second portion of the magnet arrangement. In an embodiment, the direction of the first portion is not parallel and / or not coincident to that of the second.

[0146] In an embodiment, the action of joining of action 1830 is sintering and / or welding and / or brazing. Thus, in an embodiment, the action of joining is fusion of the first element to the second element, and thus heat fusion of the first element to the second element.

[0147] In an embodiment, the heat used in the action of joining imparts sufficient heat transfer into the first magnetizable element and / or second magnetizable element to effectively at least one of change the magnetization direction of or demagnetize the first magnetizable element and / or second magnetizable element if the first and / or second elements were magnetized prior to the action of fusing. In an exemplary embodiment, the control (the comparison of the just detailed example) is where the first and / or second magnetizable element was magnetized to saturation. In an exemplary embodiment, the control is where the first and / or second magnetizable element is magnetized to 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98, or 99% or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments of saturation. In an exemplary embodiment, the heat transfer in the action of joining imparts sufficient heat transfer into the first magnetizable element and / or the second magnetizable element to reduce from saturation the magnetization to less than and / or equal to 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90 or 95% or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments of saturation level magnetization if the elements were magnetized.

[0148] In an exemplary embodiment, the heat transfer is sufficient to result in a reduction in magnetization, if one or both of the elements were magnetized, of one or both portions, greater than and / or equal to 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90% or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments from whatever magnetism one or both had before the joining, and the values may not be the same. The evaluation the reduction in magnetism can be based on any pertinent metric that can enable an evaluation that will meet the aforementioned percentages.

[0149] In an exemplary embodiment, the above noted uniformities of particle direction or otherwise qualities of particle direction can be reduced by greater than and / or equal to 5, 10,Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC115, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, or 90% or more or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments by the heat used in the action of joining if the first and / or second elements were magnetized prior to the action of joining, such as by way of example magnetization to saturation or any of the aforementioned percentages of saturation. In an exemplary embodiment, this can the case for greater than and / or equal to 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, or 90% or more or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments of the particles in a given element / portion.

[0150] Consistent with the teachings above associated with the embodiment of figure 7, the goal of at least some exemplary embodiments according to the teachings detailed herein is to achieve a magnet arrangement that has the magnetization directions and / or axes disclosed above but where the first and second elements do not move relative to each other. This can be achieved by the aforementioned joining techniques for example. In this regard, in at least some exemplary embodiments, the action of joining results in sufficient heat transfer into the first magnetizable element and / or the second magnetizable element to effectively change the magnetization direction (or demagnetize or at least reduce the magnetic strength thereof) of one or both of those elements if one or both of those elements were magnetized before the action of joining. In an exemplary embodiment, the resulting change in magnetization direction is more than and / or equal to more than and / or equal to 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65 or 70 degrees or more or any value or range of values therebetween in 1° increments. In an embodiment, the reduction in magnetism can be any of those detailed herein, in the interests of textual economy, including demagnetization (which includes effective demagnetization).

[0151] Note that while the above refers to magnetizable elements as having the change in property owing to the heat, it is noted that this also corresponds to a disclosure of the resulting portions that are achieved from the original elements in the interest of textual economy. The point of transition from an element to a portion may not be exactly identifiable, and thus in the interest of textual economy, we refer to both scenarios depending on when the evaluation is made.

[0152] In an embodiment, the magnet arrangement has, after joining, a volume that is less than and / or equal to 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, 2400, 2500, 2600, 2700, 2800, 2900, 3000, 3100, 3200, 3300, 3400, 3500, 4000, 4500 or 5000 mm3or any value or range of values therebetween in 10 mm3increments. In an embodiment, a maximum diameter of the magnetAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 arrangement, after joining, is less than and / or equal to 80, 70, 60, 50, 40, 35, 34, 33, 34, 31, 30, 29, 28, 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, 22, 21, 20, 19, 18, 17, 15, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8 or 7 mm or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.25 mm increments.

[0153] Consistent with a goal of some embodiments where the magnet arrangement is to be used in the embodiment of FIG. 11, there is a method of executing method 1800, and placing the obtained magnet arrangement into a housing and hermetically sealing the magnet arrangement therein. This can be done by placing a cap or lid over the cup the housing body and laser welding the lid. Other embodiments known in the art can be utilized to hermetically sealed the magnet arrangement in the housing. Consistent with the goal of some embodiments to achieve a magnet arrangement having the magnetization directions of the magnet of figure 7, the magnetization direction of the first portion of the magnet arrangement is one of obliquely angled or orthogonal relative to a magnetization direction of the second portion of the magnet arrangement while the magnet arrangement is hermetically sealed in the housing. In an embodiment, the housing has a compartment that has a volume that is less than and / or equal to any of the aforementioned volumes of the magnet arrangement (simply for textual economy - the compartment would be larger, such as, for example, by less than and / or greater than and / or equal to 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15% or more or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01% increments) and the magnet arrangement fits completely into the compartment.

[0154] In an embodiment, the action of joining results in a first body made from first magnetizable element and the second magnetizable element (this as opposed to two elements that are adhesively bonded together - there would be two bodies). In an extension of method 1800, there is a method that further includes machining the first body to obtain a second body having dimensions corresponding to the magnet arrangement. This recalls the concept detailed above, where the disk shape is machined from a rectangular block for example. Any shape that is utilitarian can be so machined or otherwise extracted from the first body to make a second body, such as a bar magnet apparatus or a ball magnet, etc. The first body can have the various portions noted herein by way of textual economy. And again, as noted above, multiple magnet arrangements can be made from a single first body. Thus, in an embodiment, the action of machining the first body includes obtaining a third body having dimensions corresponding to a second magnet arrangement, and the method further includes magnetizing the obtained third body to obtain a second magnet arrangement that has a thirdAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 portion corresponding to a spatial location of the first magnetizable element at the time of joining and a fourth portion corresponding to a spatial location of the second magnetizable element at the time of joining wherein a magnetization direction of the third portion of the second magnet arrangement is one of obliquely angled or orthogonal relative to a magnetization direction of the fourth portion of the second magnet arrangement. And in the interests of disclosure, in an embodiment, the action of machining the first body includes obtaining nth bodies having dimensions corresponding to various magnet arrangements, and the method further includes magnetizing the obtained nth bodies or a subset thereof to obtain mth magnet arrangements that have respective portions that correspond to a spatial location of the first magnetizable element at the time of joining and respective portions corresponding to a spatial location of the second magnetizable element at the time of joining wherein a magnetization direction of the respective potions of the respective mth magnet arrangement is one of obliquely angled or orthogonal relative to a magnetization direction of respective portions of the respective mth magnet arrangements, where m and n can be less, than, greater than and / or equal to 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 or 100 or more or any value or range of values therebetween in 1 increments. Embodiments include a monolithic body and a quasi-monolithic body in some embodiments.

[0155] Embodiments herein have focused, sometimes, on the utilization of adhesives applied directly between the two magnet elements. Embodiments certainly can use this in some scenarios, but it is noted that in some exemplary scenarios of such use, only half of the resulting joint is loaded in tension vis-a-vis trying to avoid the butterfly effect and / or trying to maintain alignment between the two halves. In an exemplary scenario, such as where the magnet arrangement is exposed to an MRI field, at least where the MRI field is not aligned with the magnetic directions of the magnet elements, and each work on the magnet elements creates the maximum stress at the material interface at the surface of the component, and thus is a stress concentrator. This can be acceptable in some applications, and otherwise can be managed, depending on some embodiments. However, in other embodiments, this may not necessarily be acceptable or otherwise sufficiently utilitarian. Thus, some embodiments do not utilize an adhesive between the two mating surfaces / the surfaces of the magnet elements that face each other. Alternatively, in an exemplary embodiment, embodiments do utilize an adhesive at those surfaces, but the connection is supplemented. By way of example, with or without the utilization of adhesives at the facing surfaces, an exemplary embodiment canAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 utilize a reinforcement shim. This can be seen by way of example in FIG. 19, which shows a magnet assembly comprising a magnet arrangement made by elements 710 and 720, which elements are connected to shim 1910. In this embodiment, an adhesive can be applied to the surfaces of the shim and / or the magnet elements that face each other to secure the shim 1910 to the respective magnet elements. Alternatively, in an exemplary embodiment, a dowel pin can be utilized by way of an interference fit or a weld or some other arrangement that can secure the dowel pin to the shim and or secure the dowel pin to the pertinent magnet element. A dowel pin has utilitarian feature that the pin can be flush with or below the bottom surface of the shim 1910, and thus not add to the height of the overall magnet assembly by way of example (whereas a rivet would have a head and that would be proud of the bottom surface of the shim 1910 - this differs from the arrangement of FIG. 5B for example). In an exemplary embodiment, the shim 1910 can be welded to one or both of the magnet elements. Brazing can be utilized to attach the shim to the magnet elements. Any arrangement that can have utilitarian value that can enable the teachings detailed herein can be utilized in at least some exemplary embodiments.

[0156] In an exemplary embodiment, the shim 1910 is relatively thin. In an exemplary embodiment, the shim is less than and / or equal to 0.05, 0.04, 0.035, 0.03, 0.025, 0.02, 0.015, 0.01, 0.009, 0.008, 0.007, 0.006, 0.006, 0.004 or 0.003 mm or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.001 mm. In an exemplary embodiment, the shim be located on the bottom (skull facing side) or top (skin facing side) of the magnet arrangement. Two or more shims can be utilized for that matter. One shim would be loaded in tension in some embodiments. In an exemplary embodiment, the shim can be a doctoral and / or high tensile strength material. The shim can be steel. Shim can be stainless steel. Shim can be titanium or a titanium alloy. A plastic shim / a polymer based shim can be utilized in some embodiments (although the thickness might be higher than that which would be the case for a metal shim). Any material that can enable the teachings detailed herein and otherwise have utilitarian value can utilize at least some exemplary embodiments. In an embodiment, whatever connection technique that is used does not add more than 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.5, 1, 0.75, 0.5, 0.25, 0.2, 0.15, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025 or 0.01% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01% increments to the height of the resulting device (whether a shim is used or some other connection technique).

[0157] In an exemplary embodiment, shim can be a circular flat disk or could be a square or rectangular body (or when viewed from the top or bottom). In an exemplary embodiment, a maximum diameter of the shin is DI 995 as seen in figure 19, and this value can be less thanAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 greater than and / or equal to 100, 95, 90, 85, 80, 75, 70, 65, 60, 55, 50, 45, 40, 35, 30, 25, 20, 15 or 10% or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments of the maximum diameter of the magnet arrangement (measured on the same planes, such as DI 909 of FIG. 19). The thickness is measured normal to DI 995. In an embodiment, DI 995 is constant at all locations about the outer periphery (the shim is circular). In an embodiment, the shape is such that other diameters are less than DI 995.

[0158] In an embodiment, when exposed to a 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5 or 9T MRI field or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1T increments, from any given angle, or the angle that will be experienced when implanted in a human undergoing an MRI scan of the head, where the magnet arrangement is used on the implantable portion of a cochlear implant and / or middle ear implant and / or bone conduction implant and / or vestibular device implant and / or brain monitoring and / or stimulating device and / or retinal prosthesis, etc., the magnet arrangement only contacts one side of the housing and does not contact the opposite side (e.g., the magnet arrangement contacts the skin facing side but not the skull facing side or vis-a-versa, for a given magnet field). The arrangement could contact the lateral housing wall, or might not. This is focused on the sides of the housing normal to the longitudinal axis of the housing compartment. In an embodiment, there is always a distance of at least and / or equal to 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.5, 1, 0.75, 0.5, 0.25, 0.2, 0.15, 0.1, 0.05, 0.025, 0.01, 0.0075, 0.005, 0.0025 or 0.001% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.001% increments of the minimum and / or maximum and / or average (mean, median and / or mode) height of the housing (as measured parallel / coincident to the longitudinal axis thereof) between the magnet arrangement and the non-contacting housing wall when exposed to one or more of the just-noted fields.

[0159] The joint between the magnet element halves and the shim is a large surface area lap joint in some embodiments. If a torque is applied to the magnet elements, such as from an MRI field, then the stresses on the joint are in shear in some embodiments. That can be utilitarian with respect to an adhesive bond between the shim and the magnet elements. This can also distribute the load over a larger surface area. This as compared to the use of adhesive only on the facing surfaces.

[0160] In an exemplary embodiment, when the magnet arrangement is exposed to one or more of the magnetic fields herein, and held in the manner detailed herein by way of example, there is no tensile stress (or effectively no such stress - any disclosure of the absence of something (or the totality of something) corresponds to a disclosure of effectivelyAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 the absence of such (or effectively the totality of such)) on any joint of the magnet arrangement and / or any surface of one portion that faces a surface of the other portion. In an embodiment, all or effectively all of the stress on such joints and / or surfaces is compression in some embodiments.

[0161] In an embodiment, of the stress induced on / in the arrangement and / or at least relative to the shim and / or all adhesive used in the arrangement and / or at least the adhesive used to bond the shim to the magnet elements, at least and / or equal to 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100 % of the stress is shear stress.

[0162] In an embodiment, a line bifurcating tension stress from compression stress of the magnet arrangement when exposed to one or more of the magnetic fields / holding arrangements detailed herein is moved from a line between the facing surfaces to a line outside the facing surfaces (e.g., through the shim). That is, the line would be above line 1991 in FIG. 19 if the bond was formed between the facing surfaces of elements 710 and 720 (or resulting portions) and below line 1991 if the shim 1910 is used in at least some embodiments.

[0163] A shim with a relatively high elastic modulus can be used. A shim that is sufficient to effectively prevent movement between the magnet halves is utilitarian. A shim that requires a lot of stress to result in strain (of the shim) that impacts the performance of the assembly is useful in some embodiments.

[0164] In embodiments, the evaluation can be made as to the expected torque on the magnet assembly. If the expected torque is to be applied only in one direction or otherwise only significant work is expected to be in one direction, one shim is utilized. There is thus one shim on the top and no shim on the bottom or vice versa in some embodiments. That said, a belt and suspenders approach can be utilized where there are two shims. Utilitarian with respect to, for example, having shims that are individually thinner than a single shim, and thus the total thickness is not the same as that which would result in the utilization of two shims of the thickness that would be needed if one shim was utilized. In an embodiment where there is expected torque or otherwise expected substantial amounts of torque in two or more directions, two shims can be utilized. (The above noted housing clearance features can be applicable to the one torque arrangement in some embodiments.)

[0165] Embodiments can be such that shims and adhesives are arranged to place the ideal stress distribution on the adhesive.Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1

[0166] In view of the above, there is a device, such as a magnet arrangement, or a magnet apparatus that includes a magnet arrangement, that comprises a first magnetized portion having a first particle direction and a second magnetized portion having a second particle direction different from the first particle direction. In an embodiment, the directions can be any of those detailed herein. In this embodiment, a magnetization direction of the first portion is angled at an angle relative to a magnetization direction of the second portion and the angle is a non-zero angle. The angle can be any of those detailed herein. And consistent with the teachings above, first portion is connected to the second portion. In an exemplary embodiment, connections established by any of connections detailed herein. By way of example only and not by way of limitation, the connection is a heat based connection, such as for example, that which results from sintering or brazing.

[0167] In an exemplary embodiment, the connection is mechanical based, again, such as that which results from the dowel pins for example. An exemplary embodiment, the connection is adhesive based, such as that which results from utilization of glue or an epoxy to hold the first element to the second element at the surfaces that face each other.

[0168] In this regard, in an exemplary embodiment, the first portion and the second portion are distinct structural elements as noted herein. In an alternate embodiment, the first portion and the second portion are part of a monolithic body.

[0169] In an exemplary embodiment, the device is configured so that the first portion maintains an alignment with the second portion and / or the first and second portions do not butterfly when exposed to a 0.1T, 0.2T, 0.3T, 0.4T, 0.5T, 0.75T, IT, 1.5T, 2T, 3T, 4T, 5T, 6T, 7T, 8T, 9T, 10T, 11T, 12T, 13T, 14T, 15T, 16T, 17T or 18T or greater or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.05T increments magnetic field from any angle and / or when that magnetic field is within 40, 35, 30, 25, 20, 19,1 8, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 degrees or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.25 degree increments of a magnetic direction of one or more of the magnetic portions of the magnet arrangement. In an exemplary embodiment, the device is configured so that when exposed to a 0.1T, 0.2T, 0.3T, 0.4T, 0.5T, 0.75T, IT, 1.5T, 2T, 3T, 4T, 5T, 6T, 7T, 8T, 9T, 10T, 11T, 12T, 13T, 14T, 15T, 16T, 17T or 18T or greater or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.05T increments magnetic field from any angle and / or when that magnetic field is within 40, 35, 30, 25, 20, 19,1 8, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 degrees or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.25 degree increments of a magnetic direction of one or more of the magnetic portions of the magnet arrangement, and the first portion is effectivelyAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 perfectly clamped (that is, the first portion is held so that it will not move), and the second portion is free of contact with structure other than that which is part of the device (e.g., the shim), a point on a surface of the second portion that moves the most of points of the second portion moves no more than 0.9, 0.8, 0.7, 0.6, 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.15, 0.125, 0.1, 0.09 0 0.08, 0.07, 0.06, 0.05, 0.04, 0.03, 0.02, 0.015, 0.0125, 0.01 or 0.009 mm or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.001 mm increments in any axis of a cartesian coordinate and / or in a given vector.

[0170] In an exemplary embodiment, a rotation of the second element relative to the first element when the first element is effectively perfectly clamped when exposed to any of the above-noted magnetic fields is less than 1, 0.9, 0.8, 0.7, 0.6, 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.09, 0.08, 0.07, 0.06, 0.05, 0.04, 0.03, 0.02, 0.01, 0.009, 0.008, 0.007, 0.006, 0.005, 0.004, 0.003, 0.002 or O.OOldegrees or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.001 degree increments.

[0171] In an exemplary embodiment, there is a device, such as any of the magnet arrangements detailed herein and / or the magnet assemblies / apparatus detailed herein, or the implantable or external components detailed herein, etc., that includes a first magnetized portion and a second magnetized portion. In an embodiment, the first magnetized portion and the second magnetized portion establish a magnet arrangement having, respectively, a first particle direction axis and a second particle direction axis, the first axis and the second axis being linear and having a non-zero angle relative to each other. Consistent with the disclosure herein, the disclosures herein relating to particle direction correspond to an alternate disclosure of magnetic direction, and vis-a-versa, in the interests of textual economy. Thus, in an embodiment, the first magnetized portion and the second magnetized portion establish a magnet arrangement having, respectively, a first magnetic direction axis and a second magnetic direction axis, the first axis and the second axis being linear and having a non-zero angle relative to each other.

[0172] In an embodiment, the angle (the non-zero angle) can be any of those detailed herein by way of textual economy providing that the art enables such.

[0173] In an embodiment, the first magnetized portion and the second magnetized portion establish a magnet arrangement having at least four (4) poles. In an embodiment, the first magnetized portion and the second magnetized portion establish a magnet arrangement having only four (4) poles, and thus the magnet arrangement can be a four pole magnet. In an embodiment, the magnet arrangement includes a third magnetized portion, such as theAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 arrangement of figure 5 A for example (but with the teachings used herein to obtain such), and thus in an embodiment, the magnet arrangement has at least five (5) poles or at least six (6) poles. In an exemplary embodiment, the magnet arrangement has only five poles or only six poles and thus the magnet arrangement is a five pole magnet or a six pole magnet, respectively.

[0174] In this exemplary embodiment, the first magnetized portion is connected to the second magnetized portion by way of metal molecule interaction with the first magnetized portion and the second magnetized portion. Briefly, it is noted that in an embodiment where there is a third magnetized portion, the second magnetized portion can be connected to the third magnetized portion by way of metal molecule interaction with the third magnetized portion and the second magnetized portion. This as opposed to, for example, that which results by the use of adhesives, which are typically polymer based and thus do not result in metal molecule interaction.

[0175] An exemplary embodiment, the first magnetized portion is bonded to the second magnetized portion and this is achieved by way of metal molecule interaction. In an exemplary embodiment, the metal molecule interaction establishes a structural joint between the first and second portions. In an exemplary embodiment, the metal molecule interaction establishes a structural connection between the first and second portions.

[0176] In an exemplary embodiment, the first portion is connected to the second portion by a heat-based connection. In an exemplary embodiment, this could be a connection established by a weld and / or a sintering operation and / or a brazing operation. In an exemplary embodiment, the first portion and the second portion are fused to each other, including heat fused.

[0177] In an embodiment, the metal molecule interaction is metal molecules of the first portion directly interacting with the metal molecules of the second portion. In an embodiment, there is no direct interaction of the metal molecules of the first portion with those of the second portion.

[0178] An exemplary embodiment, there will be a sub volume within the total volume of the magnetized portions of the magnet arrangement or otherwise the total magnet arrangement, depending on the embodiment, which has particles from the first magnetizable element commingling with particles from the second magnetizable element (and vis-a-versa). Figure 20 presents this in a conceptual manner which presents a zone 2020 inside the total volumeAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 corresponding to the sub volume just described. This zone is located between the two dashed lines of figure 20 for conceptual purposes, and has a width corresponding to a distance D2075, measured on the same plane as the outer diameter D1909, and D2075 can have a maximum width that is less than, greater than and / or equal to greater than and / or equal to 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 9 or 10% or more or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01% increments of the value of DI 909. The width many not be and will likely not be constant. This can be an average width (mean, median and / or mode) measured from a reference. This sub volume need not be perfectly aligned with the dashed lines. Indeed, the sub volume vary in width (and there might not be portions that have any molecular transfer from one element to the other - indeed, there could be portions of the facing surfaces of the element that do not have molecular interaction (this could also be the case with the adhesives). Accordingly, the width can have any of the just noted values in the same magnet arrangement depending on height from the bottom (or the top). In an embodiment, the sub volume is less than, greater than and / or equal to 0.005, 0.006, 0.007, 0.008, 0.009, 0.01, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, or 9% or more or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.001% increments of the value of the total volume of magnetized material of the magnet arrangement. Note that the sub volume could be made up of multiple sub sub volumes, and they need not be contiguous (such as the case where there are two “zones” of bonding at the top and bottom, and a middle zone has no bonding, such as that shown in FIG. 21, where there is a first zone 2130 and a second zone 2140, which are separated by a non-bonded zone, and note that the zones can have different shapes and need not be symmetrical, as shown, where FIG. 21 is a cross-section of magnet arrangement 2110).

[0179] In an embodiment, the noted sub volume or sub sub volume(s) can be identified by discrepancies of the particle directions relative to the first and second portions (the particle directions could have the differences noted above).

[0180] In an embodiment, there is a volume established by magnetic particles, which can have any of the shapes herein, such as, for example, the shape of a planar disk (and note that the curved portions shown in FIG. 20 for example still establish a planar disk - this is the general shape of the volume - minor surface differences such as the curved portions used to “break edges” / chamfers, etc., do not detract from the planar disk shape specification) or aAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 bar or a ball, etc. In an embodiment, there is effectively only metallic elements located within the volume. (Effectively takes into account trace elements / corrosion elements, etc.)

[0181] In an embodiment, by weight and / or by volume, at least and / or equal to 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 97.5, 98, 98.1, 98.2, 98.3, 98.4, 98.5, 98.6, 98.7, 98.8, 98.9, 99, 99.1, 99.2, 99.3, 99.4, 99.5, 99.6, 99.7, 99.75, 99.8, 99.85, 99.9, 99.91, 99.92, 99.93, 99.94, 99.95, 99.96, 99.97, 99.98, 99.99, 99.991, 99.992, 99.993, 99.994, 99.995, 99.996, 99.997, 99.998, 99.999 or 100% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.001% increments of the volume of the magnet arrangement is metallic elements. In an embodiment, these values can also be for the sub volume(s) described above. Note that in an embodiment, the above noted values and qualities do not include oxygen. That is, there could be oxidation and thus oxygen would be excluded from the analysis. Oxygen could be included in some other embodiments.

[0182] Note that embodiments can include the use of braze material. And thus the metal molecule interaction might not be metal of the magnetizable portions. In an embodiment, the metal molecule interaction with the first magnetized portion has effectively none, including none at all, interaction with the metal of the second magnetized portion (or second magnetizable element), and vis-a-versa. The metal interaction could be the braze material. The metal molecule interaction could be an interaction with a third magnetizable element / magnetized portion.

[0183] In an embodiment, the first portion and the second portion form at least a portion of a monolithic body (which body can be the magnet arrangement).

[0184] Embodiments have focused on joining two elements of magnetizable material to achieve a magnet arrangement that has a varying magnetization direction / multiple directions. Embodiments also include achieving such directions with a single element / without joining two elements.

[0185] The embodiments above have generally focused on a magnetic axis / magnetic direction that is linear, at least for the most part, in the given portions. FIG. 22 presents an exemplary baseline magnet arrangement 1700 showing the magnetic axes 2210 and 2220 for the respective portions 1710 and 1702, with the north pole being at the head of the arrow and the south pole being at the opposite end of the vector. The angle A5 can be the angles detailed above, and note that the angle of vector 2220 is the mirror of that of 2210. The angle for vector 2220 can be within less than and / or equal to 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0.75, 0.5 or 0.25% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01% increments of the angle A5Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 and / or within 10, 9, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.5, 1.25, 1, 0.75, 0.5, 0.25 degrees or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 degree increments. But note that in an alternate embodiment, the angle of axis 2220 can be different from that of axis 2210. That is, the axes can be asymmetrical about the plane between the two portions (the plane orthogonal but still extending in the vertical to the plane of FIG. 22). In an embodiment, the magnetization axes / directions of magnetizations of the two portions can be evaluated in a three plane reference system, where each plane is orthogonal to the other two planes. In an exemplary embodiment, a first plane could be the plane of figure 22, and the second and third planes would be orthogonal thereto and orthogonal to each other. In an exemplary embodiment the magnetic axis / direction of the first portion extends in the first plane in a manner coincident with that plane. The axis / direction could be symmetric about the plane that is orthogonal to that first plane and extends in the vertical direction (which we will call the second plane). This is the plane between the two portions. The axis / direction may not be symmetric about this plane as noted above. The third plane, which is the plane that extends into and out of figure 22 and extends in the horizontal direction, could be aligned with the bottom surface of the magnet arrangement 1700 by way of example.

[0186] It is briefly noted that the embodiments herein are often described in terms of magnet arrangements where the north and south poles can be readily discernible with respect to a given portion of the magnet arrangement. This may not always be the case. By way of example only and not by way limitation, it could be that after the magnet elements are joined in accordance with at least some of the teachings detailed herein, what was formerly the north pole for example of the second magnet element may no longer exist, or otherwise may no longer be readily discernible because the second portion is now joined with the first portion in a manner that renders the magnetic axes of both portions connected to each other. The first portion for example might only have a south and the second portion might only have a north pole, at least where such poles are readily discernible. In an exemplary embodiment, the resulting magnet arrangement can be “tested” by a destruct test for example, where the resulting magnet arrangement is separated so as to effectively corresponds to portions or elements that were the case prior to the joining action. In at least some exemplary embodiments, after separation, the second portion would have a discernible north pole (and the first portion would have a discernible south pole). Accordingly, any disclosure herein of the respective poles and / or respective axes and or respective particle directions can correspond to that which is the case after a destruct test that would reveal such, such as any ofAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 the destruct tests that would render the portions of the magnet arrangement back to the precursor elements or the like, or within less than and / or equal to 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.5, 1.25, 1.0, 0.9, 0.8, 0.7, 0.6, 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2 or 0.1% of a spatially consistent volume with respect to the respective elements in portions, etc. (e.g., only 1.5% of the precursor second element on a cartesian coordinate basis is not present in the now separated second portion and / or vis-a-versa (and the two need not be the same - there could be for example only 0.5% of the separated second portion being not present in the second element, etc.).

[0187] Thus, the teachings below will often focus on features that may not necessarily be present in the resulting magnet arrangement, but would be present in a resulting destruct tested scenario. This shall be the case with respect to the teachings herein in the interest of textual economy.

[0188] Continuing with this concept, it is noted that the respective magnetization directions and / or magnetization axes can be projected onto each of these three planes even if the directions / axes are not coincident on the planes. In this regard, by way of example only and not by way of limitation, figure 22 could represent the axes 2210 and 2220 projected onto the plane of figure 22, the first plane, with the angle A5 measured from the third plane. FIG. 23 shows the projection of the directions / axes onto the third plane (the view from above with respect to FIG. 22), where line 807 would represent the first plane, and line 2333 would represent the second plane. As seen, directions / axes 2210 and 2220 are not symmetric about the second plane when superimposed onto the third plane, even though they were symmetric when superimposed onto the first plane. Note that the directions / axes can have the angle A6, which can be any of the angles A5 noted above, and need not be the same as A5 and need not be the same for each vector, in the interests of textual economy. And FIG. 24 shows the view of the second plane (the plane of line 2333, where this is a cross-section of arrangement 1700 with portion 1710 removed (but the direction / axes 2210 is shown for purposes of explanation)). Here, the directions / axes can be measured from the third plane and can have an angle A7, which can be any of the angles A5 noted above, and need not be the same as A5 and need not be the same for each vector, in the interests of textual economy.

[0189] In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 22, the south pole of portion 1710 is perfectly aligned in the vertical direction in the plane of FIG. 22 with the north pole of portion 1720 (and in some embodiments would be with respect to a frame of reference orthogonal to that of FIG. 22 extending in the horizontal direction relative to FIG. 22 - this is shown in FIG. 23). In real life, this may not be the case. In an embodiment, the pole of one portion can beAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 within a circle that is 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.5, 1.25, 1, 0.75, 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.15, 0.1 or 0.05% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01% of the height and / or the width and / or the largest diameter of the magnet arrangement. This is presented by way of example in FIG. 24.

[0190] Note that the embodiment of FIG. 24 shows “misalignment” of the north pole of axis 2220 with the south pole of axis 2210. In this regard, it could be that there is some offset of the poles / axes. FIG. 24 shows circle 2424. This is the area in which a pole of one portion will be found relative to the pole of another portion in some embodiments. In an embodiment, the circle 2424 has a diameter or radius of less than and / or equal to 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0.75, 0.5 or 0.25% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01% increments of the diameter of the magnet arrangement measured in one of the three planes described above and / or the maximum diameter. In an embodiment, the circle 2424 is centered with respect to the three planes relative to the magnet arrangement. In an embodiment, the circle is equidistant from the top and the bottom and the circumference. In an embodiment, the circle has a center that is located a distance D2401 from an outer circumference and / or a distance D2402 from a bottom or top surface. In an embodiment, the circle concept can be applicable to the frame of reference of FIG. 22, in the interests of textual economy (the dimensioning of FIG. 24 would be superimposed thereon (the dimensions need not be the same, the circle could be centered say closer to one side than the other, but at the same height concomitant with the fact that FIG. 22 and 24 are views on orthogonal planes that extend vertically)). Conversely, FIG. 23 shows circle 2324, which is superimposed onto the plane of that figure. Circle 2324 can have a center having the dimensions D2302 and / or D2303, and can be measured from any utilitarian surface where measurement can be made so as to describe the location of the circle 2324. As seen, the dimensions are taken over directions that are orthogonal (for each of the planes - the directions can all be orthogonal to each other, or might not be so - planes might not be orthogonal to each other in some embodiments).

[0191] In an embodiment, circle 2324 and 2424 are actually sections of a sphere, and the ends of the pertinent poles are located in that sphere, and that sphere can have a diameter or radius of any of those detailed above. The sphere can have a center of the center of any of the circles 2424 and 2324, in the interests of textual economy.

[0192] In an embodiment, a pole of one portion is offset in the X, Y and / or Z direction (where in an embodiment, the directions lie on the planes described above) by less thanAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 and / or equal to and / or greater than 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0.75, 0.5 or 0.25% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01% increments of the diameter of the magnet arrangement measured in one of the three planes described above and / or the maximum diameter, and the values need not be the same. And in this regard, note that this can be where there is utilitarian value with respect to the connecting regimes, because such “misalignment” and “offset” would cause the portions to cant / twist relative to one another if not secured sufficiently because the poles will want to align with each other. FIG. 24 shows such a misalignment, in the vertical and horizontal direction in that plane.

[0193] Note that while embodiments up to now have been described in terms of a magnet arrangement having portions are basically the same volume and shape except opposite one another, other embodiments can have a magnet arrangement that has portions that are of different sizes and shapes. Figure 25 shows a top view of an exemplary magnet arrangement 2500 that includes a first portion 2510 and the second portion 2520 where the portions have curved surfaces with respect to their interfacing surfaces. As can be achieved by, for example, the above-noted concept of machining bodies out of material having a given particle direction and then connecting the two buy of the teachings detailed herein. Figure 26 shows a cross-section of the embodiment of figure 25 by way of example. And note that while the embodiments above have generally focused on the concept of a flat surface of one element abutting a flat surface of another element, the surfaces that abut one another need not be flat, as can be seen from figure 25 and figure 26. And note that while the surfaces that abut one another do have a symmetry associated with them (surfaces are symmetric about the horizontal in figure 25 and figure 26 (horizontal with respect to the frame of reference of those figures) in other embodiments, interfacing surfaces are not symmetric about one or more planes.

[0194] The embodiments shown have presented the magnetic axes / magnetic directions as linear. But this may not totally be the case. It could be that the directions / axes could have different directions at some locations that are different from the overall direction of the first portion and the second portion (or other “dominant” portions, such as the portion of a three portion magnet of FIG. 5 A to which the teachings herein have been applied for example). In this regard, by way of example, FIG. 25 shows an example of a magnet arrangement 2500 that has a portion located between lines 2220, which may or may not have the same relationship to those lines of figure 20 with respect to particle direction, but are presented herein in the interest of textual economy, where the magnetic axes do not extend in the sameAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 directions as the rest of the axes (here, they are not linear, but it could be that they are linear, but in a different direction than the rest of the magnetic axis). Note that in an exemplary embodiment, this can also correspond to the direction of magnetism in between the lines 2220. In this regard, it is noted that the above detailed circles and spheres associated with the beginnings and ends of the magnetic axes can also be applicable to the areas of nonlinearity and / or otherwise the areas of directionality that is different from the remainder of the magnetic axis. Accordingly, again in the interest of textual economy, the above-noted circles and spheres can constitute areas in which magnetic axis has a different direction and / or nonlinearity relative to the remainder of the respective axis. In an embodiment, this can be on a portion linked basis (the first portion has one direction and the second portion has another direction) or could be related to the general concept of nonlinearity.

[0195] In an exemplary embodiment, by way of example only and not by way of limitation, within any of the given spheres detailed herein and / or circles detailed herein and / or the zone between the lines 2220, of the total portion of a magnetic axis therein, less than and / or equal to 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85 or 90% or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments has a nonlinear direction and / or extends in a different direction relative to axis of a major portion, such as portion 1710 and / or 1720, or otherwise extends in a different direction than the remainder of the axis of which it is a part.

[0196] Also as seen in figure 25 is that there can be a portion of the magnet arrangement that is not magnetized and thus there is no magnetic axis therein. In at least some exemplary embodiments, this portion is de minimis and otherwise does not significantly affect the overall strength of the magnet or otherwise does not render the magnet nonutilitarian for its intended purpose. But note that in some embodiments, the pole axes are contiguous with each other, such as shown in FIG. 28.

[0197] The concept of a magnetic axis that is not linear or otherwise has a varying directionality is not limited to relatively narrow zone 2220 and / or the relatively small, at least in some embodiments, areas within the circles and spheres detailed above. In an exemplary embodiment, it could be that the magnetic axes are a majority nonlinear, including totally or almost totally nonlinear.

[0198] FIG. 29 shows an exemplary embodiment of a magnet arrangement 2900 that includes magnetized portions 2910 and 2920 which can be made from respective magnetizable elements in a manner that will be described below. Here, there are two magnetic axesAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1(magnetic axis 2912 and magnetic axis 2922 respectively produced by portions 2910 and 2920). The magnetic axes are partial circular in this embodiment, but could be parabolic or could be a series of linear components that are angled at a non-zero angle to each other or a combination of linear and curved portions. This is seen in FIG. 31, where there is an exemplary magnet arrangement 3100, that includes two dominant portions, portions 3110 and 3120, which establish respective magnetic axes 3112 and 3122. Axis 3112 has various sub axes that extend in different directions and along different trajectories. Axis 3112 includes a curved portion 3114 that follows the trajectory of a portion of a circle, and then linear portions 3116 and 3118, where those portions are at a nonzero angle relative to each other and portion 3116 is at a nonzero angle to the tangent line of the sub- axis 3114 at the portion of sub- axis 3114 closest to sub- axis 3116. Sub- axis 3119 is also linear and extends in a direction at the zero angle relative to sub- axis 3129 of axis 3122. Sub- axis 3128 extends from sub- axis 3129 at a nonzero angle, and sub- axis 3126 extends at a nonzero angle relative to sub- axis 3128. Then, there is sub- axis 3124, which extends in a curve manner corresponding to a portion of a circle, and the tangent of that curve is at a zero angle relative to the direction of extension of sub- axis 3126. This is just an exemplary embodiment, and there can be more or fewer sub axes than that described. In different trajectories can be utilized other than those presented, such as, for example, a parabolic curve or a curve that extends in a manner different than a portion of a circle, etc. And while the embodiment shown in figure 31 tends to have a slope, tangent or otherwise, that decreases from left to right, and then increases from right to left, in another embodiment, the slope could vary within a given dominant portion, or more accurately, the positive or negative value of a slope of the tangent line of a sub- axis can vary with location in the magnet.

[0199] And to be clear, the axes and sub axes etc. shown in figure 31 are projection onto that plane. Embodiments can be such that the sub axes do not extend all of that plane, but in other embodiments, the sub axes do extend out of that plane. In an embodiment, the sub axes can be projected onto one or more of the other planes detailed herein and analogous features may or may not be present depending on the trajectories. Accordingly, the values A5, A6 and / or A7 can be present for any of the sub axes when those axes / sub axes are projected onto the given planes detailed herein, all in the interest of textual economy.

[0200] And while the embodiment of figure 31 shows a symmetric distribution about the vertical axis / a plane extending between the two dominant portions, and some other embodiments, this is not the case. The axes need not mirror each other in someAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 embodiments. FIG. 32 shows an exemplary embodiment of a magnet arrangement 3200, that includes a magnetic axis 3222, that includes a curved portion 3222, and a linear portion 3229, which linear portion extends upward to meet axis 3112.

[0201] The embodiment of FIG. 29 has two portions made from two elements. An embodiment can be made from a single element, and this is seen in FIG. 30, where there is a magnet arrangement 3000 which has a magnetic axis 3050.

[0202] Briefly, it is noted that the angle of the magnetic field / the angles of the pole axes that enters and leaves the magnet arrangement is the tangent line of the curve just below the surface. The magnetism of the portion(s) can be controlled during manufacturing to achieve a given angle at the surface. The angle can be an angle A5 as seen in FIG. 29 and 30 in the plane of those figures. With respect to superposition onto planes as detailed above, the angles of the tangent line at the surface (the direction of the magnetic field at the surface) can be A5, A6 and A7 as disclosed above in the interests of textual economy.

[0203] In an embodiment, the strength of the magnet arrangement according to the embodiments of FIGs. 30 and 29 can be such that a strength of the magnetic field is greater than and / or equal to 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments of the embodiment of FIG. 22 on an apples to apples comparison (e.g., effectively the same volume, mass, material, magnetized to saturation, entry and exit locations of the poles and directions, at the surface, etc.). In an embodiment, this can be the case if any pertinent parameter, such as any of those just detailed, are within 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.5, 1, 0.75, 0.5, 0.25 or 0.1 or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 % increments of the control / comparison value.

[0204] In an embodiment, the arrangements of any one or more of FIGs. 29-32 are made by first applying an initial pressing process as disclosed above, or otherwise the initial body formation process, in which the particle directions are aligned in the desired direction (using the initial magnetic field for example). The pressing can lock in the alignment, at least within a given tolerance. Then, after the directions are locked, the arrangement is magnetized. Embodiment can include pressing the material at angles different from right angles.

[0205] In an embodiment, an annular shape is the precursor shape, and this shape is pressed, and then machined to have the outer profile of the desired arrangement. In an embodiment, the initial body after pressing and particle alignment is a monolithic body, and this body conforms, or at least substantially conforms, to the final magnet arrangement. There mightAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 be machining, but after the machining, the body conforms, or at least substantially conforms, to the final magnet arrangement. That is, there could be, in some embodiments, no connection action of one magnetizable element to another magnetizable element.

[0206] In an exemplary embodiment, the magnetic material particles are initially aligned with a guiding magnetic field. This can be a curved field or otherwise an intricately directed field pathway or a compound direction field The particles are initially held in position by squeezing the powder under pressure such as an oppressed by way of example. The now pressed part proceeds to normal sintering process to lock the alignment and fuse the powder. This results in a monolithic body, which monolithic body is then subjected to a strong magnetized field to saturate the monolithic body.

[0207] In an embodiment, there is a device that includes a first magnetized portion having a first distribution of local magnetic axes and a second magnetized portion having a second distribution of local magnetic axes. In this regard, the local axes can be axes 3114, 3116, 3118 and 3119 of the first portion, for example. But note that the concept of portions here is a link to the distributions, so thus, it could be that the first potion also includes axes 3129 and 3128. In an exemplary embodiment, various axes are contiguous with one another. And note that the embodiment of figure 30 has a distribution of local magnetic axis. Arguably, the distribution constitutes an infinite number of local magnetic axes because the axes is constantly changing with location along the curve, which curve is a portion of a circle. However, in an embodiment, a finite element analysis could be applied to the axis 3050 of figure 30, which could constitute breaking up the axis 3050 into a number of linear elements which collectively form a curve at a sufficiently granular level. By way of example only and not by way limitation, the curve could be broken up into less than greater than and / or equal to 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 400, 500, 750 or 1000 or more or any value or range of values therebetween in one increment segments which can be treated as a linear segment or otherwise a segment that can be considered a local magnetic axis. The tangents of the curve can be utilized to represent the various directions of the axis at those local portions.

[0208] Note also that a linear axis, such as the axis of the embodiment of figure 17, can be broken up into a series of local axes or otherwise evaluated on such a basis. It can be considered that the first portion includes portions of the axis that would otherwise be considered in the second portion and vice versa, depending on the desired analysis.Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1

[0209] In this embodiment, the first magnetized portion is directly materially linked to the second magnetized portion (not just in contact, but the material is linked, such as by sintering or welding). In this embodiment, a tangential line or direction (direction if it is considered that a line does not have a tangent - one can consider the line the tangent line) of the first distribution over a majority of a contiguous length of the first distribution is at a non-zero angle to a tangential line or direction of the second distribution over a majority of a contiguous length of the second distribution. For example, if the length of the magnetic axis 3112 is 9 mm, slightly more than 4.5 mm of that contiguous length would be utilized to develop a tangent or a direction for that length. If the length includes a compound curve or otherwise a curve where the radius thereof changes over that length, the mean, median and / or mode tangent line could be utilized by breaking up portions of that curve into sub elements. Other techniques can be utilized. In an exemplary embodiment, any such analysis could include utilizing at least and / or equal to five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 75 or 100 or more subsections of equal length, or more, or any of the above-noted subsection quantities for the finite element analysis.

[0210] In an embodiment, at least one of the first distribution of local magnetic axes or the second distribution of local magnetic axes is curved over at least a majority of the respective distributions. In an embodiment, this may or may not be contiguous. In an embodiment, at least one of the first distribution of local magnetic axes or the second distribution of local magnetic axes is curved over at least and / or equal to and / or less than 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95 or 100% or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments of the respective distributions. Concomitant with the teachings above, in an embodiment, the portion of the axis that is curved can be a curve with a constant radius there are long, while in other embodiments, the radius can change, and, in some embodiments, there are less than greater than and / or equal to 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 125, 150, 175 or 200 or more or any value or range of values therebetween in one increment different radii of curvature at different portions of the curve or the axis for that matter (a straight axes can be considered a radius of curvature having an infinite value or having a radius of let us say 1,000,000 mm in a finite element analysis calculation by way of example).

[0211] In an embodiment, particle direction established by the first portion and / or the second portion constantly changes with location along a linear direction across the first portion and / or the second portion. In an embodiment, the linear direction can correspond to a linearAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 direction in any of the three reference claims detailed herein by way of example. In an exemplary embodiment, the distance across the linear direction can be divided into distances of equal length or otherwise the portions can be sectioned into different zones of equal width and the directions of the particles in those zones or lengths will have an average direction (mean, median and / or mode) that is different than the average direction of an adjacent length or zone. In an exemplary embodiment, the directions can be different by any of the different directions detailed herein in the interest of textual economy.

[0212] In an exemplary embodiment, the first magnetized portion and the second magnetized portion establish more than half by volume or by weight a sintered monolithic body. In an exemplary embodiment, those portions establish by volume or by weight at least and / or equal to and / or less than 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95 or 100% or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments of a sintered monolithic body / a body that was formed by a single sintering action whereby the particles in the first portion are sintered to each other and the particles and the second portion are sintered to each other in that single sintering action. This is opposed to, for example, a body established by sintering to elements to each other.

[0213] Consistent with the teachings above, in an embodiment, the device is a disk magnet. With respect to a plane normal to a longitudinal axis of the disk magnet, the axis of the south pole and the axis of the north pole are at positive angles to the plane when measured on the same side of the plane. This as opposed to, for example, a traditional diametrically magnetized magnet where the south pole and the north pole axis are coincident with each other (or effectively such). This also is opposed to, for example, a traditional axially magnetized manet. And while the just noted example is given with respect to a disk magnet, in another embodiment, another shaped magnet could be the basis of such an embodiment. In an embodiment, instead of or in addition to a plane that is normal to the longitudinal axis, the just detailed features could be associated with a plane that is normal to another axis, such as, and axis that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, such as a lateral axis by way of example.

[0214] It is briefly noted that while the embodiments under discussion have focused on a device that has two portions or otherwise have focused on two portions of the device, in an embodiment, the teachings can be extended to a three or four or five or six or seven or eight or more portion arrangement / or those numbers of portions of the device.Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1

[0215] In an exemplary embodiment, the first portion includes a plurality of subportions (e.g., at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 or 50 or any value or range of values therebetween in one increments subportions). The respective subportions have respective one or more local magnetic axes. Respective tangential lines or directions of first subportions of the respective one or more local magnetic axes of respective subportions of the plurality of subportions, over a majority (or a given percentage noted herein) of a length of the first distribution, are at a non-zero angle to a tangential line or direction of respective one or more local magnetic axes of respective second subportions of the plurality of subportions immediately adjacent to the respective first subportions. This can be the case for the second portion as well, or any other portion.

[0216] Embodiments above have typically focused on utilizing a horizontal magnetizing field with respect to the frame of reference of figure 17 by way of example to magnetized the magnetizable portions. By way of example, the horizontal magnetizing field can be parallel to the bottom planar surface or top planar surface of the disk magnet. In an exemplary embodiment, the direction of the magnetizing field is less than greater than and / or equal to 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.5, 1, 0.75, 0.5, 0.25 or 0.1 degrees or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 degree increments from the plane that is normal to the longitudinal axis of the arrangement, which here, is the bottom surface of the top surface of this magnet. In an exemplary embodiment, the grain direction / particle directions having an offset angle from that plane is relatively small, and thus a strong enough horizontal magnetizing field and still provide magnetization of the material at or near saturation potential. In an exemplary embodiment, one or more or all of the portions are at magnetized to saturation potential or are magnetized to at least and / or equal to 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 100% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 percent increments, and the values need not be the same for a given portion.

[0217] In an embodiment, the offset values can be substantial. Indeed, while embodiments have typically focused on portions having a nonzero angle and non-orthogonal angle relative to the other portion with respect to magnetization direction and / or grain direction / particle direction, in some embodiments, the magnetization direction and / or particle direction is orthogonal or substantially orthogonal. In an embodiment, the directions are within less than greater than and / or equal to 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.5, 1, 0.75, 0.5, 0.25Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 or 0.1 degrees or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 degree increments from a perfectly orthogonal angle.

[0218] In an embodiment, the utilization of a magnetizing field in one direction might not be sufficient to magnetize both portions. Further, the utilization of a magnetizing field in one direction to magnetized one portion could demagnetize another portion. Figure 33 provides an exemplary magnet arrangement having intended magnetization directions as shown. Specifically, figure 33 shows a magnet arrangement 3300 that includes a first portion 3310 which has a respective magnetic direction 3312 with the north pole at the top, a second portion 3320 that includes a magnetic direction 3320 that renders this portion diametrically magnetized (this is a disk shaped magnet arrangement, where what is shown in figure 33 is a cross-section lying on a plane that is on the longitudinal axis and coincident there with), with the north pole on the left side of figure 33, and the third portion 3330, that has a magnetic direction 3332 that is the opposite of magnet direction 3312. In an embodiment, arrangement 3300 can correspond to the arrangements detailed above in figure 5 A, but can be made in a novel manner as will now be described.

[0219] For a magnet arrangement having the intended magnetization shown in figure 33, magnetizing one of the portions exposes the other portions to the magnetizing loads due to the direction of the applied magnetizing field. In some scenarios, the demagnetization threshold is theoretically 90° misalignment the external field, but this could, in practice, be less than, greater than and / or equal to 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89 or 90 degrees or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1° increments, depending on the arrangement for the material or the strength of the desired magnetic fields, etc. In an embodiment, applying such magnetic fields can result in a reduction in magnetic strength by greater than and / or equal to 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments from a baseline or magnetization to saturation.

[0220] In an exemplary embodiment, there is a method, which includes obtaining a magnetizable arrangement having at least two different grain directions / particle directions. With respect to the embodiment of figure 33, the obtained magnetizable arrangement is such that portion 3330 has a particle direction that is aligned in the vertical direction or otherwise within less than and / or equal to 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.5, 1, 0.75, 0.5, 0.25 or less degrees or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01° increments of the longitudinal axis. Portion 3310 has a similar or the same particle direction, but the particleAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 directions may not necessarily be the exact same, and this is presented by way of textual economy. Portion 3320 has a particle direction that is aligned in the horizontal direction or otherwise as any of the just noted angular deviations from an axis that is normal to the longitudinal axis. And note that the particle directions can be ascertained utilizing any of the qualitative features detailed herein for the other portions, such as the mean, median and / or mode, etc. In an exemplary embodiment, this magnetizable arrangement any applicable connection technique that has utilitarian value and otherwise can enable implementation thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, the portions are sintered to each other.

[0221] Figure 34 shows an exemplary magnetic field application according to an exemplary embodiment of magnetizing magnetizable arrangement 3300. But briefly, in this exemplary embodiment, portions 3330 and 3310 are the first portion is to be magnetized. Here, these portions are made of a material that requires a relatively high power magnetization field. By way of example only and not by way limitation, the material can be a material that is highly resistant to demagnetization by an external fields. By way of example only and not by way of limitation, the material can be N28EHS. Portion 3320 is made of a material that requires a relatively low-power magnetizing field. By way of example only and not by way limitation, a material that is easy to be magnetized by an external fields. In an exemplary embodiment, again by way of example and not by limitation, the material can be N55.

[0222] The magnetizing fields are applied temporally separately from each other. In an exemplary embodiment, a first magnetizing field is applied, in the form of a loop, such as that which would be utilized to magnetize a traditional four pole magnet. This is represented by way of example in figure 34 by way of a portion of loop 3401. Then, a horizontal magnetic field is applied as represented in figure 34 by arrows 3402. In this exemplary embodiment, even though the magnetizing field for section 3320 (field 3401) is applied at an angle which would risk demagnetization of portions 3310 and 3330, the strength of the magnetizing field is relatively low, at least relative to field 3410, and thus this is insufficient to cause demagnetization or significant or effective demagnetization of those portions. The field strength is high enough however to magnetize portion 3320. In an exemplary embodiment, it could be that there is some demagnetization that occurs to one or both of portions 3310 and 3330, but the amount of demagnetization or otherwise the reduction in magnetic strength thereof is acceptable. In an exemplary embodiment, the strength of the magnetic field generated by one or both of those portions can be reduced by less than and / or equal to 15, 14,Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC113, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.5, 1, 0.75, 0.5, 0.25 or less percent or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 % increments.

[0223] This concept can be applied to more than two different parts / magnets having more than two different portions (portions with different particle alignment that is). In an embodiment, the material most resistant to demagnetization is magnetized first, and then the next most resistant is magnetized, and so on, embodiments can be implemented that have many more portions than that which has just been described.

[0224] An embodiment of this method can thus result in a magnet arrangement with various regions of magnetization angles. Granted, there could be some “dead zones” or areas with distributed field directions at the boundaries and / or transition zones of a given portion, concomitant with the teachings detailed above, but this would be de minimis in at least some exemplary embodiments and otherwise the utilitarian value associated with manufacturing the magnet arrangement would outweigh any deleterious results. FIG. 35 shows an exemplary embodiment of the magnetization of a magnetizable arrangement 3500 that differs from the arrangement 3300 detailed above in that portion 3310 is replaced with portion 3510 which has a particle direction 3512 offset from the vertical direction as shown, which particle direction can be any of the particle directions detailed herein. In this embodiment, three separate fields are applied it three separate times. In this exemplary embodiment, field 3501 is applied in the first instance, and that is the strongest magnetizing field, where the material of portion 3330 requires the strongest magnetization field to magnetize such. Then, field 3402 is applied which corresponds to the field by the same number detailed above. Because the material of portion 3330 requires a field that is stronger than field 3402 to demagnetize that portion, the magnetization of portion 3230 remains intact or otherwise substantially intact. Then, field 3503 is applied in the direction shown, and because the material of portion 3510 is the easiest to magnetize, and the field 3503 is weaker than the fields required to magnetize portions 3330 and 3320, only portion 3510 is magnetized / none of the other portions are demagnetized or otherwise affected.

[0225] In an exemplary embodiment, the various portions are established separately as separate elements in a manner concomitant with the teachings above. By way of example, with respect to say the bottom portion of the ultimate magnetizable arrangement, portion 3510 (or any other pertinent portion for that matter such as portions 3310) is prepared with a grain direction where particle direction of X. Direction can be any of those detailed herein. Portion 3320 is prepared with a grain direction of Y (again relative to the bottom surface ofAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 the ultimate magnetizable arrangement). The material of portion 3320 is material that requires less power to magnetize than the material of portion 3510. There can be only two portions to the magnetizable arrangement, and these teachings can be applicable to making the arrangement of figure 17 detailed above, or any the other arrangements that matter. The acquired portion / elements are then joined together, such as by centering or by welding, etc. and then the magnetic fields are applied in sequence having the various strengths detailed above. In an exemplary embodiment, the magnetization fields that are applied are fields that would ruin or otherwise detract or otherwise demagnetize the existing magnetic field of the previously magnetize portion if the portions were made of the same material.

[0226] In an exemplary embodiment, the field strengths are less than and / or equal to 95, 94, 93, 92, 91, 90, 85, 80, 75, 70, 65, 60, 55, 50, 45, 40, 35 or 30% or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments of the strength of the previously applied field. Depending on the alignment of the particle directions, a lower field strength or a higher field strength could enable the teachings detailed herein. Also, the material property could play a part in the field strength.

[0227] Thus, again with reference to method 1200, in an exemplary embodiment, the magnetizable arrangement includes a first magnetizable portion spatially corresponding to the location of the first magnetizable element at the time of the action of connecting and a second magnetizable portion spatially corresponding to the location of the second magnetizable element at the time of the action of connecting. The action of magnetizing the magnetizable arrangement includes magnetizing the first magnetizable portion after magnetizing the second magnetizable portion. This can be expanded to the magnetization of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or more portions or any number detailed herein. And note that some portions can be magnetized at the same time as others. Further, in an embodiment, the first magnetizable portion is made of a material that requires a first magnetic field strength to accomplish the action of magnetizing and the second magnetizable portion is made of a material that requires a second magnetic field strength to accomplish the action of magnetizing, the second magnetic field strength being at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 250, 300, 350 or 400% or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments stronger than the first magnetic field strength.

[0228] Further, in an embodiment, the first magnetizable portion is made of a material that requires a first demagnetization magnetic field level and the second magnetizable portion is made of a material that has a second demagnetization magnetic field level, the secondAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 material having a higher resistance to demagnetization than the first material. In an embodiment, the first magnetizable portion is made of a material that requires a first demagnetization magnetic field level and the second magnetizable portion is made of a material that has a second demagnetization magnetic field level, the second demagnetization magnetic field level being at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650, 700, 800 or 900% or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments stronger stronger than the first demagnetization magnetic field level.

[0229] An exemplary system includes an exemplary device / devices that can enable the teachings detailed herein, which in at least some embodiments can utilize automation. That is, an exemplary embodiment includes executing one or more or all of the methods and / or functionalities detailed herein and variations thereof, at least in part, in an automated or semiautomated manner using any of the teachings herein. Conversely, embodiments include devices and / or systems and / or methods where automation is specifically prohibited, either by lack of enablement of an automated feature or the complete absence of such capability in the first instance.

[0230] It is further noted that any disclosure of a device and / or system detailed herein also corresponds to a disclosure of otherwise providing that device and / or system and / or utilizing that device and / or system.

[0231] It is also noted that any disclosure herein of any process of manufacturing or providing a device corresponds to a disclosure of a device and / or system that results therefrom. Is also noted that any disclosure herein of any device and / or system corresponds to a disclosure of a method of producing or otherwise providing or otherwise making such. Any functionality of a device disclosed herein corresponds to a disclosure of a method action corresponding to that functionality. Any method action disclosed herein corresponds to a disclosure of a device and / or system for executing such, providing that the art enables such.

[0232] Any embodiment or any feature disclosed herein can be combined with any one or more or other embodiments and / or other features disclosed herein, unless explicitly indicated and / or unless the art does not enable such. Any embodiment or any feature disclosed herein can be explicitly excluded from use with any one or more other embodiments and / or other features disclosed herein, unless explicitly indicated that such is combined and / or unless the art does not enable such exclusion.Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1

[0233] Any function or method action detailed herein corresponds to a disclosure of doing so in an automated or semi-automated manner.

[0234] While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A method, compri sing : obtaining a first element having a first particle direction; obtaining a second element having second particle direction; connecting the first element to the second element to obtain an arrangement; and magnetizing the arrangement after the action of connecting.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein: the action of connecting includes directly connecting the first element to the second element.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein: the action of connecting includes only indirectly connecting the first element to the second element.

4. The method of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein: the first element is a half-moon shape and the second element is a half-moon shape; the action of connecting results in the half-moon shapes forming a disk shape; and after the action of connecting the first element to the second element to form the disk shape, the first particle direction is a different direction than the second particle direction.

5. The method of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein: the first element is a half-moon shape and the second element is a half-moon shape; the action of connecting results in the half-moon shapes forming a disk shape; and after the action of connecting the first element to the second element to form the disk shape, the first particle direction is at least 20 degrees different from the second particle direction.

6. The method of claims 1, 4 or 5, wherein: the action of connecting is at least one of: direct adhesive bonding of the first element to the second element; orAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 mechanically connecting the first element to the second element.

7. The method of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, wherein: the arrangement includes a first magnetizable portion spatially corresponding to the location of the first element at the time of the action of connecting and a second magnetizable portion spatially corresponding to the location of the second element at the time of the action of connecting; and the action of magnetizing the arrangement includes magnetizing the first magnetizable portion after magnetizing the second magnetizable portion.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein: the first magnetizable portion is made of a material that requires a first magnetic field strength to accomplish the action of magnetizing; and the second magnetizable portion is made of a material that requires a second magnetic field strength to accomplish the action of magnetizing, the second magnetic field strength being at least 10% stronger than the first magnetic field strength.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein: the first magnetizable portion is made of a material that requires a first demagnetization magnetic field level; and the second magnetizable portion is made of a material that has a second demagnetization magnetic field level, the second material having a higher resistance to demagnetization than the first material.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein: the first magnetizable portion is made of a material that requires a first demagnetization magnetic field level; and the second magnetizable portion is made of a material that has a second demagnetization magnetic field level, the second demagnetization magnetic field level being at least 20% stronger than the first demagnetization magnetic field level.

11. A method of making a magnet arrangement that includes at least two distinct magnetic portions, comprising: obtaining a first element made of magnetic material;Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 obtaining a second element made of magnetic material; and joining, using heat, the first element to the second element, wherein the magnet arrangement has a first portion corresponding to a spatial location of the first element at the time of joining and a second portion corresponding to a spatial location of the second element at the time of joining, wherein the at least two distinct magnetic portions of the magnet arrangement include the first portion and the second portion, and a magnetization direction of the first portion of the magnet arrangement is one of obliquely angled or orthogonal relative to a magnetization direction of the second portion of the magnet arrangement.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein: the action of joining is sintering.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein: the action of joining is welding.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein: the action of joining is brazing.

15. The method of claims 11, 12, 13 or 14, wherein: the heat used in the action of joining imparts sufficient heat transfer into the first element and / or second element to effectively at least one of change the magnetization direction of or demagnetize the first element and / or second element if the first and / or second elements were magnetized prior to the action of fusing.

16. The method of claims 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15, wherein: the magnet arrangement has a volume that is less than 2,500 mm3and a largest diameter of the magnet arrangement is less than 40 mm.

17. The method of claims 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16, further comprising: placing the magnet arrangement into a housing and hermetically sealing the magnet arrangement therein, whereinAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 a magnetization direction of the first portion of the magnet arrangement is one of obliquely angled or orthogonal relative to a magnetization direction of the second portion of the magnet arrangement while the magnet arrangement is hermetically sealed in the housing.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein: the housing has a compartment that has a volume that is less than 2,500 mm3and the magnet arrangement fits completely into to the compartment.

19. The method of claims 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 or 17, wherein: the action of joining results in a first body made from the first element and the second element; and the method further includes machining the first body to obtain a second body having dimensions corresponding to the magnet arrangement.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein: the action of machining the first body includes obtaining a third body having dimensions corresponding to a second magnet arrangement, and the method further includes: magnetizing the obtained third body to obtain a second magnet arrangement that has a third portion corresponding to a spatial location of the first element at the time of fusing and a fourth portion corresponding to a spatial location of the second element at the time of fusing, wherein a magnetization direction of the third portion of the second magnet arrangement is one of obliquely angled or orthogonal relative to a magnetization direction of the fourth portion of the second magnet arrangement.

21. A device, comprising: a first magnetized portion having a first particle direction; and a second magnetized portion having a second particle direction different from the first particle direction, wherein a magnetization direction of the first portion is angled at an angle relative to a magnetization direction of the second portion, the angle is a non-zero angle, and at least one of: the first portion is connected to the second portion; orAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 the device is configured so that the first portion maintains an alignment with the second portion when exposed to a 3 T magnetic field from any angle.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein: the first portion is connected to the second portion.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein: the first portion is connected to the second portion by a connection established by heat.

24. The device of claims 21 or 22, wherein: the device includes a shim, which shim is bonded to the first magnetized portion and the second magnetized portion.

25. The device of claims 21, 22, 23 or 24, wherein: the device is configured so that the first portion maintains an alignment with the second portion when exposed to a 3 T magnetic field from any angle.

26. The device of claims 21, 22, 23, 24 or 25, wherein: the device is configured so that when exposed to a 4 T magnetic field from any angle, and the first portion is effectively perfectly clamped, and the second portion is free of contact with structure other than that which is part of the device, a point on surface of the second portion that moves the most of the second portion moves no more than 0.025 mm in any axis of a cartesian coordinate.

27. The device of claims 21, 22, 23, 24 or 25, wherein: the device is configured so that when exposed to a 4 T magnetic field from any angle, and the first portion is effectively perfectly clamped, and the second portion is free of contact with structure other than that which is part of the device, a point on a surface of the second portion that moves the most of points of the second portion moves no more than 0.0125 mm in any axis of a cartesian coordinate.

28. The device of claims 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 or 27, wherein:Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 the first portion and the second portion form a planar disk shape magnet apparatus; and the first portion and the second portion do not butterfly and do not pivot relative to each other when exposed to a 4T magnetic field.

29. The device of claims 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 or 28, wherein: the first portion and the second portion are connected to each other by a shim extending from the first portion to the second portion; and the shim has a thickness of less than 0.5 micrometers.

30. The device of claim 21, wherein: the device is configured so that the first portion maintains an alignment with the second portion31. The device of claims 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 or 30, wherein: the first magnetized portion is made of a material that requires a first demagnetization magnetic field level; and the second magnetized portion is made of a material that has a second demagnetization magnetic field level, the second material having a higher resistance to demagnetization than the first material.

32. The device of claims 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 or 30, wherein: the first magnetized portion is made of a material that requires a first demagnetization magnetic field level; and the second magnetized portion is made of a material that has a second demagnetization magnetic field level, the second demagnetization magnetic field level being at least 20% stronger than the first demagnetization magnetic field level. when exposed to a 6 T magnetic field from any angle.

33. A device, comprising: a first magnetized portion; and a second magnetized portion, whereinAtty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 the first magnetized portion and the second magnetized portion having, respectively, a first particle direction axis and a second particle direction axis, the first axis and the second axis being linear and having a non-zero angle relative to each other, and the first magnetized portion is connected to the second magnetized portion by way of metal molecule interaction with the first magnetized portion and metal molecule interaction with the second magnetized portion, thereby establishing a magnet arrangement.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein: the first portion is connected to the second portion by a connection established by heat.

35. The device of claims 33 or 34, wherein: the first portion and the second portion are heat fused to each other.

36. The device of claim 33, wherein: the first portion and the second portion form at least a portion of a monolithic body.

37. The device of claim 33, wherein: the first portion and second portion are connected by brazing.

38. The device of claim 33, wherein: the first portion and second portion are connected by sintering.

39. The device of claims 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 or 38, wherein: the magnet arrangement is a four (4) pole magnet.

40. The device of claims 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 or 39, wherein: the first magnetized portion and the second magnetized portion establish a diskshaped magnet arrangement, wherein effectively only metallic elements are located within a volume corresponding to the disk-shape.

41. The device of claims 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 or 40, wherein:Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 the first magnetized portion is a distinct structural component from the second magnetized portion.

42. The device of claims 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 or 41, wherein: the first magnetized portion is made of a material that requires a first demagnetization magnetic field level; and the second magnetized portion is made of a material that has a second demagnetization magnetic field level, the second material having a higher resistance to demagnetization than the first material.

43. The device of claims 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 or 41, wherein: the first magnetized portion is made of a material that requires a first demagnetization magnetic field level; and the second magnetized portion is made of a material that has a second demagnetization magnetic field level, the second demagnetization magnetic field level being at least 20% stronger than the first demagnetization magnetic field level.

44. A device, comprising: a first magnetized portion having a first distribution of local magnetic axes; and a second magnetized portion having a second distribution of local magnetic axes, wherein the first magnetized portion is directly materially linked to the second magnetized portion, and a tangential line or direction of the first distribution over a majority of a contiguous length of the first distribution is at a non-zero angle to a tangential line or direction of the second distribution over a majority of a contiguous length of the second distribution.

45. The device of claim 44, wherein: at least one of the first distribution of local magnetic axes or the second distribution of local magnetic axes is curved over at least a majority of the respective distributions.

46. The device of claim 44, wherein: the material linkage is established by sintering.Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC147. The device of claims 44, 45 or 46, wherein: particle direction established by the first portion and the second portion constantly changes with location along a linear direction across the first portion and the second portion.

48. The device of claims 44, 45, 46 or 47, wherein: the first magnetized portion and the second magnetized portion establish more than half by volume or by weight a sintered monolithic body.

49. The device of claims 44, 45, 46, 47 or 48, wherein: the device is a disk magnet; and with respect to a plane normal to a longitudinal axis of the disk magnet, the axis of the south pole and the axis of the north pole are at positive angles to the plane when measured on the same side of the plane.

50. The device of claim 48, wherein: the magnetic axis of the device includes a portion located inside one of the first or second portions that is at a non-zero angle from both the axis of the south pole and the axis of the north pole.

51. The device of claim 44, wherein: the first portion includes at least five subportions that have respective one or more local magnetic axes, wherein respective tangential lines or directions of first subportions of the respective one or more local magnetic axes of respective subportions of the at least five subportions, over a majority of a length of the first distribution, are at a non-zero angle to a tangential line or direction of respective one or more local magnetic axes of respective second subportions of the at least five subportions immediately adjacent to the respective first subportions.

52. The method of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, wherein: the first element is a magnetizable element and the second element is a magnetizable element.

53. The method of claims 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 or 17, wherein:Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 the first element is a magnetizable element and the second element is a magnetizable element.

54. An implantable medical device, comprising: a magnet arrangement including a first magnetized portion and a second magnetized portion, wherein the first magnetized portion and the second magnetized portion have, respectively, a first magnetization axis and a second magnetization axis, the first axis and the second axis being linear and having a non-zero angle relative to each other, and the first magnetized portion is connected to the second magnetized portion by way of metal molecule interaction with the first magnetized portion and metal molecule interaction with the second magnetized portion.

55. A device, system and / or method, wherein at least one of the method includes obtaining a first element having a first particle direction, the first element could be a magnetizable element; the method includes obtaining a second element having second particle direction, the second element could be a magnetizable element; the method includes connecting the first element to the second element to obtain a magnetizable arrangement; the method includes magnetizing the magnetizable arrangement after the action of connecting; the action of connecting includes directly connecting the first magnetizable element to the second magnetizable element; the action of connecting includes only indirectly connecting the first magnetizable element to the second magnetizable element; the first magnetizable element is a half-moon shape and the second magnetizable element is a half-moon shape; the action of connecting results in the half-moon shapes forming a disk shape; and after the action of connecting the first magnetizable element to the second magnetizable element to form the disk shape, the first particle direction is a different direction than the second particle direction; the first magnetizable element is a half-moon shape and the second magnetizable element is a half-moon shape;Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 the action of connecting results in the half-moon shapes forming a disk shape; and after the action of connecting the first magnetizable element to the second magnetizable element to form the disk shape, the first particle direction is at least 20 degrees different from the second particle direction; the action of connecting is direct adhesive bonding of the first element to the second element; the action of connecting is mechanically connecting the first element to the second element; the magnetizable arrangement includes a first magnetizable portion spatially corresponding to the location of the first magnetizable element at the time of the action of connecting and a second magnetizable portion spatially corresponding to the location of the second magnetizable element at the time of the action of connecting; the action of magnetizing the magnetizable arrangement includes magnetizing the first magnetizable portion after magnetizing the second magnetizable portion; the first magnetizable portion is made of a material that requires a first magnetic field strength to accomplish the action of magnetizing; the second magnetizable portion is made of a material that requires a second magnetic field strength to accomplish the action of magnetizing, the second magnetic field strength being at least 20% stronger than the first magnetic field strength; the first magnetizable portion is made of a material that requires a first demagnetization magnetic field level; the second magnetizable portion is made of a material that has a second demagnetization magnetic field level, the second material having a higher resistance to demagnetization than the first material; the first magnetizable portion is made of a material that requires a first demagnetization magnetic field level; the second magnetizable portion is made of a material that has a second demagnetization magnetic field level, the second demagnetization magnetic field level being at least 20% stronger than the first demagnetization magnetic field level; the method is a method of making a magnet arrangement that includes at least two distinct magnetic portions; the method includes obtaining a first magnetizable element; the method includes obtaining a second magnetizable element; the method includes obtaining a first element;Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 the method includes obtaining a second element; the method includes joining, using heat, the first magnetizable element to the second magnetizable element; the magnet arrangement has a first portion corresponding to a spatial location of the first magnetizable element at the time of joining and a second portion corresponding to a spatial location of the second magnetizable element at the time of joining; the at least two distinct magnetic portions of the magnet arrangement include the first portion and the second portion; a magnetization direction of the first portion of the magnet arrangement is one of obliquely angled or orthogonal relative to a magnetization direction of the second portion of the magnet arrangement; the action of joining is sintering; the action of joining is welding; the action of joining is brazing; the heat used in the action of joining imparts sufficient heat transfer into the first magnetizable element and / or second magnetizable element to effectively at least one of change the magnetization direction of or demagnetize the first magnetizable element and / or second magnetizable element if the first and / or second elements were magnetized prior to the action of fusing; the magnet arrangement has a volume that is less than 2,500 mm3and a largest diameter of the magnet arrangement is less than 40 mm; the method includes placing the magnet arrangement into a housing and hermetically sealing the magnet arrangement therein; a magnetization direction of the first portion of the magnet arrangement is one of obliquely angled or orthogonal relative to a magnetization direction of the second portion of the magnet arrangement while the magnet arrangement is hermetically sealed in the housing; the housing has a compartment that has a volume that is less than 2,500 mm3and the magnet arrangement fits completely into to the compartment; the action of joining results in a first body made from the first magnetizable element and the second magnetizable element; the method includes machining the first body to obtain a second body having dimensions corresponding to the magnet arrangement; the action of machining the first body includes obtaining a third body having dimensions corresponding to a second magnet arrangement;Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 the method includes magnetizing the obtained third body to obtain a second magnet arrangement that has a third portion corresponding to a spatial location of the first magnetizable element at the time of fusing and a fourth portion corresponding to a spatial location of the second magnetizable element at the time of fusing; a magnetization direction of the third portion of the second magnet arrangement is one of obliquely angled or orthogonal relative to a magnetization direction of the fourth portion of the second magnet arrangement; the device includes a first magnetized portion having a first particle direction; the device includes a second magnetized portion having a second particle direction different from the first particle direction; a magnetization direction of the first portion is angled at an angle relative to a magnetization direction of the second portion; the angle is a non-zero angle; the first portion is connected to the second portion; the device is configured so that the first portion maintains an alignment with the second portion when exposed to a 3 T magnetic field from any angle; the first portion is connected to the second portion; the first portion is connected to the second portion by a heat-based connection; the device includes a shim, which shim is bonded to the first magnetized portion and the second magnetized portion; the device is configured so that the first portion maintains an alignment with the second portion when exposed to a 3 T magnetic field from any angle; the device is configured so that when exposed to a 4 T magnetic field from any angle, and the first portion is effectively perfectly clamped, and the second portion is free of contact with structure other than that which is part of the device, a point on surface of the second portion that moves the most of the second portion moves no more than 0.025 mm in any axis of a cartesian coordinate; the device is configured so that when exposed to a 4 T magnetic field from any angle, and the first portion is effectively perfectly clamped, and the second portion is free of contact with structure other than that which is part of the device, a point on a surface of the second portion that moves the most of points of the second portion moves no more than 0.0125 mm in any axis of a cartesian coordinate; the first portion and the second portion form a planar disk shape magnet apparatus;Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 the first portion and the second portion do not butterfly and do not pivot relative to each other when exposed to a 4T magnetic field; the first portion and the second portion are connected to each other by a shim extending from the first portion to the second portion; the shim has a thickness of less than 0.2 micrometers; the device includes a first magnetized portion; a second magnetized portion; the first magnetized portion and the second magnetized portion establish a magnet arrangement having at least four (4) poles; the first magnetized portion is connected to the second magnetized portion by way of metal molecule interaction with the first magnetized portion and metal molecule interaction with the second magnetized portion; the first magnetized portion is made of a material that requires a first demagnetization magnetic field level; the second magnetized portion is made of a material that has a second demagnetization magnetic field level, the second material having a higher resistance to demagnetization than the first material; the first magnetized portion is made of a material that requires a first demagnetization magnetic field level; the second magnetized portion is made of a material that has a second demagnetization magnetic field level, the second demagnetization magnetic field level being at least 20% stronger than the first demagnetization magnetic field level; the first magnetized portion and the second magnetized portion establish a magnet arrangement having, respectively, a first magnetization axis and a second magnetization axis; a north polarity of the first magnetization axis points in a different direction than a north polarity of the second magnetization axis; the first axis is linear and the second axis is linear; the first portion makes up at least about a third of total magnetic material of the magnet arrangement, the second portion makes up at least about a third of total magnetic material of the magnet arrangement; the first magnetized portion is connected to the second magnetized portion by way of metal molecule interaction with the first magnetized portion and metal molecule interaction with the second magnetized portion;Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 a first magnetized portion; the first magnetized portion and the second magnetized portion establish a magnet arrangement having, respectively, a first magnetization axis and a second magnetization axis, the first axis and the second axis being linear and having a non-zero angle relative to each other; the first portion is connected to the second portion by a heat-based connection; the first portion and the second portion are heat fused to each other; the first portion and the second portion form at least a portion of a monolithic body; the first portion and second portion are connected by brazing; the first portion and second portion are connected by sintering; the magnet arrangement is a four (4) pole magnet; the first magnetized portion and the second magnetized portion establish a diskshaped magnet arrangement, wherein effectively only metallic elements are located within a volume corresponding to the disk-shape; the first magnetized portion is a distinct structural component from the second magnetized portion; the device includes a first magnetized portion having a first distribution of local magnetic axes; the device includes a second magnetized portion having a second distribution of local magnetic axes; the first magnetized portion is directly materially linked to the second magnetized portion; a tangential line or direction of the first distribution over a majority of a contiguous length of the first distribution is at a non-zero angle to a tangential line or direction of the second distribution over a majority of a contiguous length of the second distribution; at least one of the first distribution of local magnetic axes or the second distribution of local magnetic axes is curved over at least a majority of the respective distributions; the material linkage is established by sintering; particle direction established by the first portion and the second portion constantly changes with location along a linear direction across the first portion and the second portion; the first magnetized portion and the second magnetized portion establish more than half by volume or by weight a sintered monolithic body; the device is a disk magnet;Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 with respect to a plane normal to a longitudinal axis of the disk magnet, the axis of the south pole and the axis of the north pole are at positive angles to the plane when measured on the same side of the plane; the magnetic axis of the device includes a portion located inside one of the first or second portions that is at a non-zero angle from both the axis of the south pole and the axis of the north pole; the first portion includes at least five subportions that have respective one or more local magnetic axes, wherein respective tangential lines or directions of first subportions of the respective one or more local magnetic axes of respective subportions of the at least five subportions, over a majority of a length of the first distribution, are at a non-zero angle to a tangential line or direction of respective one or more local magnetic axes of respective second subportions of the at least five subportions immediately adjacent to the respective first subportions; the device is or is part of a cochlear implant; the device is or is part of a retinal implant; the device is or is part of a hearing prosthesis; the device is or is part of a middle ear implant; the device is or is part of a passive transcutaneous bone conduction device; the device is or is part of an active transcutaneous bone conduction device; the device is or is part of a medical implant; the magnet arrangement is hermetically sealed within a housing; the magnet arrangement can rotate within the housing / relative to the housing; the joining or connection occurs prior to magnetization, or at least prior to magnetization to saturation, or at least prior to magnetization to a strength of more than and / or equal to 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 85 or 80% or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments of saturation; two or more magnet elements or magnet precursors, comprising two or more different grain directions / particle directions, are fused together to prevent relative movement of each sub-piece (the respective elements) due to external and / or internal magnetic fields; the fusion may occur before or after final magnetization; fusion of magnet precursors prior to final magnetization (e.g., to saturation or close to saturation, or a value above those noted in the prior paragraph for example) allows for high- heat fusion processes to be used, and circumvents the typical issue of demagnetization;Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC1 the shim can be less than or equal to 30, 25, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 or 2 micrometers or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.25 micrometer increments; the method includes obtaining less, than, greater than and / or equal to 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 or 50 or more or any value or range of values therebetween in 1 increments elements, where one or more or all of these elements are magnetizable elements; the elements and / or portions are half-moon shapes; the magnet apparatus (or magnetizable arrangement prior to magnetization) has at least two portions, which portions make up, respectively, less than, greater than and / or equal to 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 70, 75, 80 or 85 % or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments of the total volume of the resulting magnet arrangement (or magnetizable arrangement; a relative volume of the first element at the time just before connection is less than, greater than and / or equal to 10, 15, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63,64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88,89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments of the volume of the second element and visa-versa; the magnetizable arrangement and / or magnet arrangement has a portion that constitutes less than, greater than and / or equal to 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.05% increments of the total volume of the magnet arrangement and / or magnetizable arrangement that has a particle direction that is different from the particle direction of the first portion and / or the second portion; a portion has a particle alignment of less than and / or equal to 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75 or 80% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments of a perfect alignment; less than and / or equal to 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75 or 80% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments of the particles of a portion have an alignment that is within less than and / or equal to 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9,Atty. Docket No. 5441-220PCT Client Ref. No. CID03739WOPC18, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.5, 2, 1.5, 1.25, 1, 0.75, 0.5, 0.25 or 0.1 degrees or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.05 degree increments of each other; heat is used to join the two elements, and the heat transfer into the elements is sufficient to result in a reduction in magnetization, if one or both of the elements were magnetized, of one or both portions, greater than and / or equal to 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90% or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments from whatever magnetism one or both had before the joining, and the values may not be the same; the device is configured so that the first portion maintains an alignment with the second portion and / or the first and second portions do not butterfly when exposed to a IT, 2T, 3T, 4T, 5T, 6T, 7T, 8T or 9T or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.25T increments magnetic field from any angle and / or when that magnetic field is within 40, 35, 30, 25, 20, 19,1 8, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 degrees or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.25 degree increments of a magnetic direction of one or more of the magnetic portions of the magnet arrangement; the device is configured so that when exposed to a IT, 2T, 3T, 4T, 5T, 6T, 7T, 8T or 9T or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.25T increments magnetic field from any angle and / or when that magnetic field is within 40, 35, 30, 25, 20, 19,1 8, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 degrees or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.25 degree increments of a magnetic direction of one or more of the magnetic portions of the magnet arrangement, and the first portion is effectively perfectly clamped, and the second portion is free of contact with structure other than that which is part of the device, a point on a surface of the second portion that moves the most of points of the second portion moves no more than 0.9, 0.8, 0.7, 0.6, 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.15, 0.125, 0.1, 0.09 0 0.08, 0.07, 0.06, 0.05, 0.04, 0.03, 0.02, 0.015, 0.0125, 0.01 or 0.009 mm or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.001 mm increments in any axis of a cartesian coordinate and / or in a given vector; or a rotation of the second element relative to the first element when the first element is effectively perfectly clamped when exposed to any of the above-noted magnetic fields is less than 1, 0.9, 0.8, 0.7, 0.6, 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.09, 0.08, 0.07, 0.06, 0.05, 0.04, 0.03, 0.02, 0.01, 0.009, 0.008, 0.007, 0.006, 0.005, 0.004, 0.003, 0.002 or O.OOldegrees or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.001 degree increments.

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