Sensor and method for spinal monitoring

• US 20070232958A1
• Filed: 02/17/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: SDGI Holdings Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Tethrake, Steven, Nycz, Jeffrey, Donofrio, William, Olson, Stanley
• Granted Patent: US 7,993,269 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/587
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• 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 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4509 Bone density determination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4514 Cartilage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6878 Bone
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

A sensor for detecting changes in spinal tissue is disclosed. The implantable sensor or surgical instrument includes a sensing element adapted for detecting indicators of tissue health. The sensor is configured for transmitting the tissue data outside of the body. Further a system and method are provided to utilize the sensed tissue properties to treat the patient'"'"'s condition.

Claims

1. A method for evaluating a condition of at least a portion of a spinal segment in a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:

providing a sensor having a sensing element and a communication circuit;

placing the sensing element in conductive contact with a portion of the spinal segment;

activating the sensor to detect at least one characteristic of the spinal segment; and

communicating the sensed characteristic of the spinal segment to a user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said placing includes positioning at least the sensing element into a disc space of the spinal segment located between upper and lower vertebral bodies.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said placing includes positioning at least the sensing element into the nucleus of the spinal segment.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said activating includes emitting an energy signal and further including sensing a reflected energy signal at the sensing element to detect the at least one characteristic of the spinal segment.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one characteristic is a nutrient of the disc space.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said emitting includes directing the energy signal toward at least one of the upper or lower vertebral endplates and said sensing the reflected energy signal provides a measurement of at least one nutrient opening in the vertebral endplate.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the measurement includes the size of the nutrient opening.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the measurement includes the flow of material through the nutrient opening.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein sensing the reflected energy signal provides a measurement of a plurality of nutrient openings in the vertebral endplate.

10. The method of claim 9, further including determining the distribution of the nutrient openings in the vertebral endplate.

11. The method of claim 9, further including determining the porosity of the nutrient openings in the vertebral endplate.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic is the instantaneous axis of rotation of the spinal segment.

13. The method of claim 12, further including placing a second sensor at a second spinal segment adjacent said first spinal segment and activating the second sensor to sense the instantaneous axis of rotation of the second spinal segment.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic is the condition of the annular wall between adjacent vertebra of the spinal segment.

15. The method of claim 14, further including locating defects in the annular wall.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic is an indicator of an irritated nerve adjacent the spinal segment.

17. The method of claim 2, wherein the characteristic is pressure between adjacent vertebrae of the spinal segment.

18. The method of claim 2, wherein the characteristic is a property of material within the disc space between adjacent vertebrae in the spinal segment.

19. The method of claim 18, further including distinguishing between nucleus material and foreign materials.

20. The method of claim 2, wherein the characteristic is a measurement of the space between the adjacent vertebral bodies in the spinal segment.

21. The method of claim 20, further including determining the size of the implant to be placed in the disc space based on the sensed internal geometry.

22. The method of claim 20, further including determining a volume of filler needed to fill the disc space.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein said placing includes positioning the sensor adjacent the annulus of the space between adjacent vertebrae of the spinal segment.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the characteristic is the tension of the annulus.

25. The method of claim 24, further including positioning a second sensor adjacent a second annulus of a second spinal segment and sensing the second tension of the second annulus.

26. The method of claim 25, further including comparing the tension of the annulus to the second tension of the second annulus and communicating the relative tensions to a user.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said communicating includes alerting the user when the tension of the annulus exceeds the second tension of the second annulus.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein said placing includes positioning the sensor adjacent at least one nerve

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the characteristic is an indicator of nerve irritation.

30. A method of treating a patient for a condition in a spinal segment, comprising:

providing a sensor for detecting at least one indicator of spinal segment health;

inserting the sensor into the patient adjacent the spinal segment;

sensing a first condition of the tissues associated with the spinal segment;

initiating a first treatment course;

sensing a second condition of the tissues associated with the spinal segment after said initiating a first treatment course; and

comparing the sensed first condition to the sensed second condition of the tissues to evaluate the performance of the first treatment course.

31. The method of claim 30, further including initiating a second treatment course in response to said comparing step.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said first treatment course includes providing a treatment compound to the patient.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said second treatment course includes providing a second treatment compound to the patient.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the first treatment course includes a first form of rehabilitation therapy and the second treatment course includes a second form of rehabilitation therapy.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the first treatment course includes providing the patient a treatment compound and the second treatment course includes performing a surgical procedure on the tissues associated with the spinal segment.

36. The method of claim 31, further including sensing a third condition of the tissues associated with the spinal segment after said initiating a second treatment course;

and comparing at least the sensed second condition to the sensed third condition of the tissues to evaluate the performance of the second treatment course.

37. The method of claim 36, further including initiating a third treatment course in response to said comparing at least the sensed second condition to the sensed third condition.

38. The method of claim 30, wherein said inserting includes implanting an indwelling sensor in the patient adjacent the spinal segment.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said implanting step includes accessing the disc space and implanting at least a portion of the sensor in the disc space.

40. The method of claim 30, further including positioning a second sensor near a second spinal segment;

sensing the condition of a second tissue adjacent the second spinal segment; and

comparing the sensed condition of the second tissues to the sensed condition of the tissue.

41. The method of claim 40, further including withdrawing the second sensor from the spinal segment after said sensing the condition of the second tissue.

42. The method of claim 30, wherein said sensing a first condition of the tissues associated with the spinal segment includes initializing the sensor to establish at least one threshold value for a first tissue characteristic, and said comparing includes comparing the second condition of the tissues to the at least one threshold value.

43. The method of claim 42, further including notifying a healthcare provider when the second condition of the tissues exceeds the at least one threshold value.