Joint endoprosthesis with ambient condition sensing

• US 20050012610A1
• Filed: 03/31/2004
• Published: 01/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Liao, Yen-Shuo, DiSilvestro, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,190,273 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.120
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0095 Packages or dispensers for prostheses or other implants for intraocular lenses A61F2/1691; for dental surgery A61C19/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/32 for the hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/34 Acetabular cups
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/36 Femoral heads ; Femoral endoprostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3662 Femoral shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/367 Proximal or metaphyseal parts of shafts trochanteric devices connected to said proximal parts A61F2/30739
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/38 for elbows or knees
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3804 for elbows
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3859 Femoral components
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/389 Tibial components A61F2/3868 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/40 for shoulders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4657 Measuring instruments used for implanting artificial joints for surgical instruments A61B90/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/48 Operating or control means, e.g. from outside the body, control of sphincters
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/481 Acoustic or audible means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/482 : Electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/488 : Means for detecting or monitoring wear
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30326 : differing in height or in length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30449 : the adhesive being cement
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30589 : Sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 : hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30668 : Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3067 : for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30698 : Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30878 : with non-sharp protrusions, for instance contacting the bone for anchoring, e.g. keels, pegs, pins, posts, shanks, stems, struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30884 : Fins or wings, e.g. longitudinal wings for preventing rotation within the bone cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30892 : parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3611 : Heads or epiphyseal parts of femur
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3625 : Necks
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3631 : with an integral complete or partial peripheral collar or bearing shoulder at its base
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3647 : pierced with a longitudinal bore
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/365 : Connections of heads to necks
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4661 : for measuring thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4672 : for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4674 : for measuring the pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4696 : optical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/005 : using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0001 : Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0002 : for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0037 : differing in height or in length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/008 : Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 : Radio telemetry

Abstract

A system for monitoring the ambient conditions of a mammalian joint, and particularly a joint that has been instrumented with a joint endoprosthesis includes a sensor supported by a component of the joint endoprosthesis. The system includes a transmission element that is also supported within the body of the patient, preferably within the endoprosthesis. The transmission element transmits a signal indicative of the sensed ambient condition within the instrumented joint. For example, the sensor can be a temperature sensor used to evaluate the temperature within a joint, such as a hip joint, during activity or exercise by the patient.

Claims

1. A joint endoprosthesis comprising:

a body configured to replace a portion of a mammalian joint;

at least one sensor supported by said body, said sensor adapted to sense an ambient condition of the mammalian joint and to generate a condition signal indicative of the sensed condition; and

a transmission element connected to said sensor to receive said condition signal and operable to transmit a signal indicative of said condition signal.

2. The joint endoprosthesis of claim 1, wherein said sensor is a temperature sensor and the ambient condition is temperature.

3. The joint endoprosthesis of claim 1, wherein said sensor is a pH sensor and the ambient condition is pH.

4. The joint endoprosthesis of claim 1, wherein said sensor is configured to determine the presence of a biological material.

5. The joint endoprosthesis of claim 1, wherein said sensor is a configured to sense the presence of a pre-determined liquid.

6. The joint endoprosthesis of claim 1, wherein said body is a component of a joint prosthesis selected from the group of a hip prosthesis, a knee prosthesis, a shoulder prosthesis and an elbow prosthesis.

7. The joint endoprosthesis of claim 1, wherein said transmission element includes an alarm.

8. The joint endoprosthesis of claim 1, wherein said transmission element includes a transmitter supported by said body and configured to transmit a signal to a receiver located outside the joint indicative of said condition signal.

9. The joint endoprosthesis of claim 8, wherein said transmission element includes an antenna and a power source providing power to said antenna.

10. The joint endoprosthesis of claim 1, further comprising a power source supported by said body and connected to provide power to said sensor and said communication element.

11. The joint endoprosthesis of claim 10, wherein said power source is a passive power source.

12. A system for sensing a condition within a mammalian joint comprising:

an endoprosthesis including a body configured to replace a portion of the joint;

a sensor supported by said body, said sensor adapted to sense an ambient condition of the mammalian joint and to generate a condition signal indicative of the sensed condition;

a transmitter connected to said sensor to receive said condition signal and operable to transmit a transmission signal outside the joint indicative of said condition signal;

a receiver disposed outside the joint for receiving said transmission signal; and

translation circuitry for translating said transmission signal to a human sensible signal.

13. The system for determining a condition within a mammalian joint of claim 12 wherein said translation circuitry includes an alarm.

14. The system for determining a condition within a mammalian joint of claim 13, wherein said alarm is configured to produce an audible signal.

15. The system for determining a condition within a mammalian joint of claim 13, wherein said alarm is configured to produce a vibration.

16. The system for sensing a condition within a mammalian joint of claim 12, wherein said translation circuitry includes a display configured to produce a visually sensible signal.

17. A method for determining a condition within a mammalian joint comprising the steps of:

introducing a sensor within the joint, the sensor adapted to sense an ambient condition of the joint and to generate a sensor signal indicative of the ambient condition;

coupling the sensor with a transmission element operable to transmit an information signal outside the joint in response to the sensor signal;

sensing the ambient condition within the joint; and

transmitting the information signal.

18. The method for determining a condition within a mammalian joint of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

analyzing the sensor signal to determine whether the ambient condition is abnormal; and

transmitting a human sensible warning signal in response thereto.