Instrumented implant for diagnostics

• US 20060247773A1
• Filed: 04/29/2005
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: SDGI Holdings Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Stamp, Carl M.
• Application Number:
  US11/118,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20060247773A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.110
• 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 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4514 Cartilage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6878 Bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4425 made of articulated components
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30563 having elastic means or damping means, different from springs, e.g. including an elastomeric core or shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3067 for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/443 having two transversal endplates and at least one intermediate component
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4658 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4666 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0002 for data transfer

Abstract

A vertebral implant for interposition between first and second vertebral bodies comprises a first component for engaging a vertebral endplate of the first vertebral body and a second component for engaging a vertebral endplate of the second vertebral body. The second component is adapted to articulate with respect to the first component. The implant further includes a first sensor for detecting a first physical parameter and a transmitter coupled to the first sensor. The transmitter is adapted for interposition between the first and second vertebral bodies.

Claims

1. A vertebral implant for interposition between first and second vertebral bodies comprising:

a first component for engaging a vertebral endplate of the first vertebral body;

a second component for engaging a vertebral endplate of the second vertebral body, wherein the second component is adapted to articulate with respect to the first component;

a first sensor for detecting a first physical parameter; and

a transmitter coupled to the first sensor, wherein the transmitter is adapted for interposition between the first and second vertebral bodies.

2. The vertebral implant of claim 1 wherein the first component is in sliding contact with the second component.

3. The vertebral implant of claim 1 further comprising a central body interposed between the first and second components, wherein the central body is adapted for articulating contact with the first and second components.

4. The vertebral implant of claim 1 wherein the first sensor comprises a linear variable differential transformer.

5. The vertebral implant of claim 1 wherein the first sensor comprises a rotational variable differential transformer.

6. The vertebral implant of claim 1 wherein the first sensor comprises an accelerometer.

7. The vertebral implant of claim 1 wherein the first sensor comprises a pressure transducer.

8. The vertebral implant of claim 1 further comprising a power supply component.

9. The vertebral implant of claim 1 further comprising a second sensor for detecting a second physical parameter.

10. The vertebral implant of claim 1 wherein the first sensor is directly coupled to the first component and the second sensor is directly coupled to the second component.

12. The system of claim 1I1 further comprising:

a computer in communication with the receiver component.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the computer is in communication with the receiver component via a public network.

11. A system for gathering diagnostic data about a patient comprising:

an implant for interposition between a pair of vertebral bodies, the implant comprising at least two surfaces adapted for sliding engagement with each other;

at least one sensor component coupled to the implant;

at least one transmitter component coupled to the at least one sensor device and adapted for implantation between the pair of vertebral bodies;

a power supply component associated with the at least one transmitter; and

a receiver component adapted to receive a communication from the at least one transmitter component.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the power supply component is adapted for implantation between the pair of vertebral bodies.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising a power supply unit located externally of the patient and adapted for energizing the power supply component.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the power supply component is a battery.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the communication is transmitted via radio-frequency.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein at least one of the vertebral bodies is a cervical vertebral body and the receiver component is connected to a collar for at least partially encircling the patient'"'"'s neck.

19. The system of claim 11 wherein at least one of the vertebral bodies is a lumbar vertebral body and the receiver component is connected to a belt for at least partially encircling the patient'"'"'s torso.

20. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

a remote sensor coupled to the patient'"'"'s body for measuring differential motion between the remote sensor and the at least one sensor component coupled to the implant.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the remote sensor is implanted into the patient outside of the vertebral column.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the remote sensor is attached to the exterior body of the patient.

23. A vertebral implant for interposition between first and second vertebral bodies comprising:

a vertebral body replacement component for replacing a third vertebral body removed from between the first and second vertebral bodies;

at least one sensor for detecting at least one physical parameter; and

a transmitter coupled to the sensor.

24. The vertebral implant of claim 23 further comprising:

at least one articulated vertebral disc replacement component coupled to the vertebral body replacement component.

25. The vertebral implant of claim 23 wherein the at least one sensor is at least one pressure transducer.

26. The vertebral implant of claim 23 wherein the at least one sensor is adapted to measure linear displacement.

27. The vertebral implant of claim 23 wherein the at least one sensor is adapted to measure angular displacement.

28. The vertebral implant of claim 23 wherein the at least one sensor is adapted to measure relative motion between the first and second vertebral bodies.

29. The vertebral implant of claim 23 wherein the at least one sensor is adapted to measure acceleration.

30. A diagnostic system for assessing vertebral joint performance comprising:

a first sensor engaged with a posterior vertebral bone element for detecting a first physical parameter;

a transmitter coupled to the first sensor for transmitting data about the first physical parameter; and

a receiver in communication with the first sensor for receiving the transmitted data about the first physical parameter.

31. The diagnostic system of claim 30 wherein the posterior vertebral bone element is an articular process

32. The diagnostic system of claim 30 wherein the posterior vertebral bone element is a spinous process.

33. The diagnostic system of claim 30 wherein the first sensor is coupled to a facet replacement component and the facet replacement component is engaged with the posterior vertebral bone element.

34. A method for gathering data on the operation of a vertebral implant, the method comprising:

implanting an articulated disc between a pair of vertebral bodies, wherein the articulated disc comprises a pair of slidably engaged surfaces and wherein the articulated disc is fitted with

a) at least one sensor for detecting at least one physical parameter and b) a transmitter coupled to the at least one sensor for communicating data about the at least one physical parameter;

supplying power to the at least one sensor; and

transmitting the data from the transmitter to a receiver.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the at least one physical parameter is linear displacement.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein the at least one physical parameter is angular displacement.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein the at least one physical parameter is pressure.

38. The method of claim 34 wherein the at least one physical parameter is temperature.

39. The method of claim 34 wherein the at least one physical parameter is acceleration.

40. The method of claim 34 wherein the at least one physical parameter is pH.