Implantable tissue growth stimulator

• US 20070179562A1
• Filed: 02/01/2006
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: SDGI Holdings Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Nycz, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 8,078,282 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/51
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/205 for promoting a biological process
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/326 for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells

Abstract

An implantable tissue growth stimulator is disclosed. The implantable tissue growth stimulator includes electronic circuitry to alter the voltage output by the stimulator. The implantable tissue growth stimulator may be controlled from an external device via wireless communication. The implantable tissue growth stimulator may be configured for use with an implant. In particular, the implantable tissue growth stimulator may be incorporated into an orthopaedic device such as a hip prosthesis. The implantable tissue growth stimulator may be used to stimulate bone growth.

Claims

1. A bone growth stimulator for use with an orthopaedic device, comprising:

a plurality of electrical conductors arranged in a preformed geometry and adapted to provide electrical stimulation to a bone; and

a sheath having a first surface for engaging the orthopaedic device and a second surface for engaging the bone, the sheath adapted for at least partially maintaining the geometry of the plurality of electrical conductors.

2. The bone growth stimulator of claim 1, wherein the sheath is malleable.

3. The bone growth stimulator of claim 2, wherein the plurality of electrical conductors is malleable.

4. The bone growth stimulator of claim 1, wherein the sheath is resorbable.

5. The bone growth stimulator of claim 1, wherein the sheath is made substantially of an insulating material.

6. The bone growth stimulator of claim 5, wherein the sheath is adapted to shield the orthopaedic device from the electrical stimulation of the bone.

7. The bone growth stimulator of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrical conductors are adapted for providing electrical stimulation over a range of voltages between 0.5 V to 10 V.

8. The bone growth stimulator of claim 7, wherein the plurality of electrical conductors are adapted for providing electrical stimulation over a range of voltages between 2 V to 6 V.

9. The bone growth stimulator of claim 7, wherein each of the electrical conductors of the plurality of electrical conductors is adapted to provide electrical stimulation for at least one voltage level in the range of voltages.

10. The bone growth stimulator of claim 9, wherein each of the electrical conductors of the plurality of electrical conductors is adapted to provide electrical stimulation at a voltage different from at least one other electrical conductor.

11. The bone growth stimulator of claim 9, wherein each of the electrical conductors of the plurality of electrical conductors is adapted to provide electrical stimulation at a plurality of voltages in the range of voltages.

12. The bone growth stimulator of claim 11, wherein each of the electrical conductors of the plurality of electrical conductors is adapted to provide electrical stimulation over the entire range of voltages.

13. The bone growth stimulator of claim 1, further comprising an internal controller adapted for controlling a parameter of the electrical stimulation provided by the plurality of electrical conductors.

14. The bone growth stimulator of claim 13, wherein the internal controller is adapted for communication with an external device.

15. The bone growth stimulator of claim 14, wherein the external device is adapted for determining a parameter controlled by the internal controller.

16. The bone growth stimulator of claim 14, wherein the internal controller and plurality of electrical conductors are adapted to receive power from the external device.

17. The bone growth stimulator of claim 16, wherein the plurality of electrical conductors are adapted to provide electrical stimulation only when the external device provides power to the plurality of electrical conductors.

18. The bone growth stimulator of claim 13, wherein the internal controller is adapted to control a plurality of parameters of the electrical stimulation.

19. The bone growth stimulator of claim 18, wherein at least one parameter is voltage.

20. The bone growth stimulator of claim 18, wherein at least one parameter is length of time.

21. The bone growth stimulator of claim 1, wherein the preformed geometry is substantially flat.

22. The bone growth stimulator of claim 1, wherein the preformed geometry is at least partially comprised of concentric circles.

23. The bone growth stimulator of claim 1, wherein the preformed geometry is substantially semispherical.

24. The bone growth stimulator of claim 1, wherein the preformed geometry is substantially grid-like.

25. The bone growth stimulator of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrical conductors is adapted for at least partially maintaining the preformed geometry.

26. The bone growth stimulator of claim 25, wherein the plurality of conductors are reinforced.

27. The bone growth stimulator of claim 1, wherein the each of the plurality of electrical conductors have a thickness and the preformed pattern has a width substantially greater than the thickness.

28. The bone growth stimulator of claim 27, wherein the thickness is less than 2 mm.

29. The bone growth stimulator of claim 28, wherein the thickness is less than 1 mm.

30. The bone growth stimulator of claim 1, wherein the orthopaedic device is a hip prosthesis.

31. The bone growth stimulator of claim 1, wherein the orthopaedic device is a knee prosthesis.

32. The bone growth stimulator of claim 1, wherein the orthopaedic device is an ankle prosthesis.

33. The bone growth stimulator of claim 1, wherein the orthopaedic device is a spinal prosthesis.

34. The bone growth stimulator of claim 1, wherein the orthopaedic device is a shoulder prosthesis.

35. The bone growth stimulator of claim 1, wherein the orthopaedic device is an elbow prosthesis.

36. The bone growth stimulator of claim 1, wherein the orthopaedic device is a wrist prosthesis.

37. The bone growth stimulator of claim 1, wherein the orthopaedic device is a jaw prosthesis.

38. A method of providing bone growth stimulation within a body, comprising:

providing a bone growth stimulator, the bone growth stimulator including a plurality of electrical conductors adapted to provide electrical stimulation to a bone and a sheath having a first surface for engaging an orthopaedic device and a second surface for engaging the bone, the sheath adapted for at least partially maintaining the position of the plurality of electrical conductors;

inserting the bone growth stimulator into the body adjacent a bone;

operating the bone growth stimulator to provide electrical stimulation to the bone.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising engaging the bone growth stimulator to an orthopaedic device prior to said inserting.

40. The method of claim 38, further comprising implanting a orthopaedic device into the body and engaging the first surface of the sheath after said inserting.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein said operating includes providing electrical stimulation at a plurality of voltages.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein the sheath is resorbable.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein the bone growth stimulator is controllable by an external device.

44. The method of claim 38, wherein the orthopaedic device is one of a hip prosthesis, a knee prosthesis, an ankle prosthesis, a spinal prosthesis, a shoulder prosthesis, an elbow prosthesis, a wrist prosthesis, or a jaw prosthesis.

45. A bone growth stimulator for use within a body, comprising:

a plurality of electrical conductors adapted to provide electrical stimulation to a bone; and

a malleable sheath having a first surface for engaging a tissue of the body, the malleable sheath adapted for at least partially maintaining the position of the plurality of electrical conductors.

46. A bone growth stimulator for use with an orthopaedic device, comprising:

a plurality of electrical conductors adapted to provide electrical stimulation to a bone; and

a sheath having a first surface for engaging the orthopaedic device and a second surface for engaging the bone, the sheath adapted for at least partially maintaining the position of the plurality of electrical conductors.

47. The bone growth stimulator of claim 46, wherein the sheath is resorbable.

48. The bone growth stimulator of claim 46, wherein plurality of electrical conductors are adapted for providing electrical stimulation at a plurality of voltages.

49. The bone growth stimulator of claim 46, wherein the plurality of electrical conductors are controllable by an external device.

50. The bone growth stimulator of claim 49, wherein the plurality of electrical conductors are adapted to receive power from the external device.

51. The bone growth stimulator of claim 46, wherein the orthopaedic device is one of a hip prosthesis, a knee prosthesis, an ankle prosthesis, a spinal prosthesis, a shoulder prosthesis, an elbow prosthesis, a wrist prosthesis, or a jaw prosthesis.