Systems and methods for monitoring wear and/or displacement of artificial joint members, vertebrae, segments of fractured bones and dental implants
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A distance measurement system comprising:
- (a) at least one resonant circuit;
(b) at least one magnetic element having predetermined magnetic properties;
(c) a transmitter operable to transmit an electromagnetic pulse;
(d) a receiver operable to detect oscillations emitted by said resonant circuit in response to said electromagnetic pulse; and
(e) an analyzer operable to analyze an amplitude envelope property of said oscillations, to thereby determine a distance between said resonant circuit and said magnetic element.
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Abstract
A distance measurement system is provided. The distance measurement system includes at least one resonant circuit, at least one magnetic element with predetermined magnetic properties, a transmitter operable to transmit an electromagnetic pulse, a receiver operable to detect oscillations emitted by said resonant circuit in response to said electromagnetic pulse, and an analyzer operable to analyze an amplitude envelope property of said oscillations, to thereby determine a distance between the resonant circuit and the magnetic element.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1. A distance measurement system comprising:
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(a) at least one resonant circuit;
(b) at least one magnetic element having predetermined magnetic properties;
(c) a transmitter operable to transmit an electromagnetic pulse;
(d) a receiver operable to detect oscillations emitted by said resonant circuit in response to said electromagnetic pulse; and
(e) an analyzer operable to analyze an amplitude envelope property of said oscillations, to thereby determine a distance between said resonant circuit and said magnetic element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19)
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18. A method for assembling a distance measurement system, the method comprising:
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(a) placing a resonant circuit at a first location;
(b) placing a magnetic element with predetermined magnetic properties at a second location;
(c) providing a transmitter for transmitting an electromagnetic pulse to said resonant circuit;
(d) providing a detector for detecting oscillations emitted by said resonant circuit in response to said electromagnetic pulse; and
(e) providing al analyzer for analyzing an amplitude envelope property of said detected oscillations, to thereby determine a distance between said first location and said second location.
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20. A method for measuring the distance between a first location comprising a resonant circuit and a second location comprising a magnetic element, comprising the steps of:
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(a) transmitting an electromagnetic pulse to said resonant circuit;
(b) detecting oscillations emitted by said resonant circuit in response to said electromagnetic pulse; and
(c) analyzing an amplitude envelope property of said detected oscillations, to thereby determine a distance between said first location and said second location. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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26. , A distance measurement system utilizing eddy currents for energy dissipation, the system comprising:
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(a) at least one resonant circuit, (b) at least one magnetic element with predetermined magnetic properties;
(c) a transmitter operable to transmit an electromagnetic pulse;
(d) a receiver operable to detect oscillations emitted by said resonant circuit in response to said electromagnetic pulse; and
(e) an analyzer operable to analyze an amplitude envelope property of said oscillations as an indicator of eddy current induced energy dissipation, to thereby determine a distance between said resonant circuit and said magnetic element.
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27. An artificial joint system comprising:
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(a) at least one artificial joint member having an articulating surface and a bone attachment portion, said bone attachment portion being for attaching said at least one artificial joint member to at least one natural bone of a joint when implanted within an individual;
(b) a detection system implanted within, or attached, to, said at least one artificial joint member and said at least one natural bone of said joint, said at least one detection system including;
(i) at least one resonant circuit element; and
(ii) at least one magnetic element having predetermined magnetic properties; and
(c) an extracorporeal unit including;
(i) a transmitter operable to transmit an electromagnetic pulse;
(ii) a receiver operable to detect oscillations emitted by said resonant circuit in response to said electromagnetic pulse; and
(iii) an analyzer operable to analyze an amplitude envelope property of said oscillations. said amplitude envelope property being indicative of a distance between said resonant circuit and said magnetic element and thus of a distance between said at least one artificial joint member and said at least one natural bone of said joint.
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33. A method of determining a parameter associated with relative displacement between an artificial joint member and a natural bone of a joint to which it is attached, the method comprising:
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(a) providing a detection system implanted within, or attached to, least one artificial joint member and at least one natural bone of a joint, said detection system including;
(i) at least one resonant circuit element; and
(ii) at least one magnetic element having predetermined magnetic properties;
(b) extracorporeally energizing said detection system so as to receive outside the body an information signal including oscillations emitted by said resonant circuit in response to said energizing, and (c) processing said information signal being received so as to yield an amplitude envelope property of said oscillations, said amplitude envelope being indicative of a distance between said resonant circuit and said magnetic element, and thus of a distance between said at least one artificial joint member and said at least one natural bone of said joint. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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34. An artificial joint system comprising:
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(a) an artificial joint assembly implantable within, an individual, said artificial joint assembly including a first artificial joint assembly member having a first articulating surface and further including a second artificial joint assembly member having a second articulating surface, said first and said second articulating surfaces being in articulating engagement therebetween, (b) a detection system implanted within, or attached to, said artificial joint assembly. said detection system including (i) at least one resonant circuit element; and
(ii) at least one magnetic element having predetermined magnetic properties; and
(c) an extracorporeal unit including;
(i) a transmitter operable to transmit an electromagnetic pulse;
(ii) a receiver operable to detect oscillations emitted by said resonant circuit in response to said electromagnetic pulse; and
(iii) an analyzer operable to analyze an amplitude envelope property of said oscillations, said amplitude envelope property being indicative of a distance between said resonant circuit and said magnetic element and thus of a distance between said first artificial joint assembly member and said second artificial joint assembly member.
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41. A method of determining a parameter associated with wear or relative displacement of an artificial joint, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing an artificial joint assembly system including;
(i) an artificial joint assembly implantable within an individual, said artificial joint assembly including a first artificial joint assembly member having a first articulating surface and further including a second artificial joint assembly member having a second articulating surface, said first and said second articulating surfaces being in articulating engagement therebetween; and
(ii) a detection system implanted within, or attached to, said artificial joint assembly, said detection system including at least one resonant circuit element; and
at least one magnetic element having predetermined magnetic properties;
(b) extracorporeally energizing said detection system so as to receive outside the body an information signal including oscillations emitted by said resonant circuit in response to said energizing; and
(c) processing said information signal being received so as to yield an amplitude envelope property of said oscillations, said amplitude envelope being indicative of a distance between said resonant circuit and said magnetic element, and thus of a distance between said first artificial joint assembly member and said second artificial joint assembly member.
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42. A system for monitoring displacement between vertebrae comprising:
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(a) a detection system implanted within, or attached to, the vertebrae, said detection system including;
(i) at least one resonant circuit element; and
(ii) at least one magnetic element having predetermined magnetic properties;
(b) an extracorporeal unit including;
(i) a transmitter operable to transmit an electromagnetic pulse; and
(ii) a receiver operable to detect oscillations emitted by said resonant circuit in response to said electromagnetic pulse; and
(iii) an analyzer operable to analyze an amplitude envelope property of said oscillations, said amplitude envelope property being indicative of a distance between said resonant circuit and said magnetic element and thus of a distance between the vertebrae. - View Dependent Claims (43)
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44. A method of determining a parameter associated with relative displacement of vertebrae. the method comprising the step of:
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(a) attaching or implanting a detection system within or upon the vertebrae, said detection system including;
(i) at least one resonant circuit element; and
(ii) at least one magnetic element having predetermined magnetic properties;
(b) extracorporeally energizing said detection system so as to receive outside the body an information signal including oscillations emitted by said resonant circuit in response to said energizing; and
(c) processing said information signal being received so as to yield an amplitude envelope property of said oscillations, said amplitude envelope being indicative of a distance between said resonant circuit and said magnetic element, and thus of a distance between said vertebrae. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50)
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45. A system for monitoring displacement between a dental implant and a bone in which it is anchored comprising:
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(a) a detection system implanted within, or attached to, the dental implant and the bones said detection system including;
(i) at least one resonant circuit element; and
(h) at least one magnetic element having predetermined magnetic properties; and
(b) an extracorporeal unit including;
(i) a transmitter operable to transmit an electromagnetic pulse;
(ii) a receiver operable to detect oscillations emitted by said resonant circuit in response to said electromagnetic pulse; and
(iii) an analyzer operable to analyze an amplitude envelope property of said oscillations, said amplitude envelope property being indicative of a distance between said resonant circuit and said magnetic element and thus of a distance between the dental implant and the bone.
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46. A method of determining a parameter associated with relative displacement between a dental implant and a bone in which it is anchored, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a detection system within the dental implant and the bone, said detection system including;
(i) at least one resonant circuit element; and
2(ii) at least one magnetic element having predetermined magnetic properties;
(b) extracorporeally energizing said detection system so as to receive outside the body an information signal including oscillations emitted by said resonant circuit in response to said energizing; and
(c) processing said information signal being received so as to yield an amplitude envelope property of said oscillations, said amplitude envelope being indicative of a distance between said resonant circuit and said magnetic element, and thus of a distance between the dental implant and the bone.
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47. A system for monitoring displacement between bone segments of a fractured or a broken bone comprising:
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(a) a detection system implanted within, or attached to, the bone segments, said detection system including;
(i) at least one resonant circuit element; and
(ii) at least one magnetic element having predetermined magnetic properties; and
(b) an extracorporeal unit including;
(i) a transmitter operable to transmit an electromagnetic pulse;
(ii) a receiver operable to detect oscillations emitted by said resonant circuit in response to said electromagnetic pulse, and (iii) an analyzer operable to analyze an amplitude envelope property of said oscillations, said amplitude envelope property being indicative of a distance between said resonant circuit and said magnetic element and thus of a distance between the bone segments of the fractured or broken bone.
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51. A method of determining a parameter associated with relative displacement between bone segments of a fractured or broken bone, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) attaching or implanting a detection system within or upon the bone segments, said detection system including;
(i) at least one resonant circuit element;
said(ii) at least one magnetic element having predetermined magnetic properties;
(b) extracorporeally energizing said detection system so as to receive outside the body an information signal including oscillations emitted by said resonant circuit in response to said energizing; and
(c) processing said information signal being received so as to yield an amplitude envelope property of said oscillations, said amplitude envelope being indicative of a distance between said resonant circuit and said magnetic element, and thus of a distance between the bone segments of the fractured or broken bone.
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Specification