Apparatus and methods for using an electromagnetic transponder in orthopedic procedures

• US 10,182,868 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2014
• Issued: 01/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Meier, Eric, Dimmer, Steven C., Wright, J. Nelson, Edelson, Rich
• Primary Examiner(s): Lopez, Leslie
• Application Number:
  US14/243,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20140303489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,756 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/15 Guides therefor arrangements for guiding straight saw blades in general B23D51/025
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/155 Cutting femur
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/157 Cutting tibia
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/17 Guides or aligning means for drills , mills, pins or wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1757 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3958 emitting a signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3966 Radiopaque markers visible in an X-ray image
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3975 active
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3991 having specific anchoring means to fixate the marker to the tissue, e.g. hooks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4504 Bones A61B5/4547 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/686 Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips A61B5/6861 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/32 for the hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/38 for elbows or knees
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/441 made of inflatable pockets or chambers filled with fluid, e.g. with hydrogel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3067 for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0002 : for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

Electromagnetic transponders as markers are used to localize and guide orthopedic procedures including: knee replacement, hip replacement, shoulder replacement, damaged bone reconstruction, and spine surgery, and more particularly, to guide orthopedic surgical navigation and alignment techniques and instruments. For example, the marker could further be used in any number of guides or templates that attach to the bony anatomy; such as a surgical guide, cutting guide, cutting jig, resection block and/or resurfacing guide. Further, the marker could be incorporated into an existing intramedullary guide rod for a femur and an extramedullary guide rod for a tibia in a knee replacement surgery; or into an external surgical guide system, or the marker could eliminate the need for an external template altogether. According to yet another anticipated use of the tracking system, the marker could be used in conjunction with or replace an optical alignment system.

Claims

1. A system for tracking a prosthesis implanted in a human, the system comprising:

a spinal stabilization device configured to be received in a cavity of the human, wherein the spinal stabilization device includes an inflatable body sized and shaped to be positioned between spinous processes of adjacent superior and inferior vertebrae when the spinal stabilization device is in an expanded state, and wherein the inflatable body includes an aperture through a wall of the inflatable body;

a magnetic transponder positioned in the aperture of the inflatable body of the spinal stabilization device, wherein a first outer surface of the magnetic transponder protrudes radially from an exterior surface of the inflatable body in a first general direction and defines an exterior outer portion of the spinal stabilization device, wherein a second outer surface of the magnetic transponder protrudes radially from an interior surface of the inflatable body in a second general direction opposite the first general direction and defines an interior portion of the spinal stabilization device, and wherein the transponder has a circuit configured to be energized by a wirelessly transmitted pulsed magnetic field and to wirelessly transmit a pulsed magnetic location signal in response to the pulsed magnetic field; and

a sensor assembly comprising a support member and a plurality of field sensors carried by the support member configured to sense the pulsed magnetic location signal from the transponder.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of field sensors are responsive only to field components of the pulsed magnetic location signal normal to individual field sensors of the plurality of field sensors.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the field sensors are arranged in an array occupying an area having a maximum dimension of 100% to 300% of a predetermined sensing distance of 20 cm between the transponder and the sensing array.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the transponder comprises an alternating magnetic circuit having a ferrite core and a coil with a plurality of windings around the ferrite core.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the inflatable body is a balloon.

6. A system for tracking a prosthesis implanted in a human, the system comprising:

a spinal stabilization device configured to be received in a cavity of the human, wherein the spinal stabilization device includes an inflatable body sized and shaped to be positioned between spinous processes of adjacent superior and inferior vertebrae when the spinal stabilization device is in an expanded state, wherein the inflatable body has a wall with an outer surface, an inner surface, and a recess extending an intermediate depth into the wall from the outer surface;

a magnetic transponder positioned in the recess of the inflatable body of the spinal stabilization device, wherein an exterior surface of the magnetic transponder is spaced radially outward from an exterior surface of the inflatable body, and wherein the transponder has a circuit configured to be energized by a wirelessly transmitted pulsed magnetic field and to wirelessly transmit a pulsed magnetic location signal in response to the pulsed magnetic field; and

a sensor assembly comprising a support member and a plurality of field sensors carried by the support member configured to sense the pulsed magnetic location signal from the transponder.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the inflatable body is a balloon.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the inflatable body is made from a compliant material.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the inflatable body is made from a non-compliant or semi-compliant material.