Haptic implants

Abstract

This disclosure relates to haptic devices for implantation in a human subject. Such haptic devices can include various actuators, including both active and passive haptic actuators, for providing feedback to a user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A passive haptic device, comprising:
 a biocompatible encapsulating material;   a passive haptic actuator comprising a material that is a liquid at body temperature, but a solid at room temperature, contained within the biocompatible encapsulating material,   wherein the passive haptic device is configured for implanting within a body of a user, and   wherein the passive haptic actuator, in response to an external cooling, provides the haptic feedback to the user.   
     
     
         2 . The passive haptic device of  claim 1 , further comprising: a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag contained within the biocompatible encapsulating material. 
     
     
         3 . The passive haptic device of  claim 1 , wherein the external cooling comprises a thermal sink or a cooling device. 
     
     
         4 . The passive haptic device of  claim 1 , wherein the passive haptic device is in the form of a prosthetic body part. 
     
     
         5 . The passive haptic device of  claim 1 , wherein the material is metal. 
     
     
         6 . The passive haptic device of  claim 5 , wherein the metal is gallium. 
     
     
         7 . A method of providing haptic feedback to a user, comprising:
 a. cooling a passive haptic actuator comprising a material that is liquid at body temperature, but a solid at room temperature, the passive haptic actuator implanted within the body of the user;   b. reducing the temperature of the passive haptic actuator, causing it to solidify; and   c. providing haptic feedback to the user.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the material is a metal. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the metal is gallium. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the haptic feedback is a change in state of the material. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the haptic feedback is a change in temperature of the material. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the haptic actuator is implanted under skin of a hand of the user. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , comprising providing and implanting multiple passive haptic actuator under skin of a hand of the user. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the passive haptic actuator response results from collective or sequential actuation of the haptic actuators.