The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 02, 2021
Filed:
May. 31, 2019
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Junfeng Xu, Tucson, AZ (US);
Albert Dennes, Tucson, AZ (US);
Gregory Michael Ketterer, Tucson, AZ (US);
Dave Bach, Phoenix, AZ (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes: an electromagnetic shaft, an expandable balloon coupled to a first end of the shaft, and a fluid reservoir. A conduit also extends between the fluid reservoir and an interior of the balloon. The apparatus also includes a selectively magnetizable fluid, at least a portion of which is contained in the fluid reservoir, and a pump for selectively transferring the magnetizable fluid from the fluid reservoir to the balloon. A pressure sensor for detecting a pressure of the magnetizable fluid, and a controller for controlling the pump are further included. Moreover, at least a portion of the shaft is flexible. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.