Dynamic treatment system and method of use

• US 20070233065A1
• Filed: 02/17/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc), SDGI Holdings Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: SDGI Holdings Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Tethrake, Steven, Nycz, Jeffrey, Donofrio, William, Olson, Stanley
• Granted Patent: US 8,016,859 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/309
• 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 5/4509 Bone density determination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4514 Cartilage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0875 for diagnosis of bone A61B5/4504 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/565 involving data transmission via a network

Abstract

A system and method are provided for monitoring the condition of the skeletal system and adjusting a treatment device to provide appropriate treatment in response to the sensed signal. More particularly, in one aspect the present invention is directed to a sensor for detecting changes at a spinal level and a dynamic treatment system adjustable in response to the detected changes.

Claims

1. A system for treating a spinal segment within a patient, the system comprising

a sensor having a sensing portion implantable in the body adjacent to the spinal segment, said sensing portion generating a sensor signal in response to a sensed characteristic of the spinal segment;

and

a dynamic spinal treatment system having at least a first treatment mode and a second treatment mode, said treatment system in communication with said sensor and responsive to said sensor signal to adjust said treatment system from said first treatment mode to said second treatment mode.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said dynamic spinal treatment system includes a mechanical stabilization of the spine and said first treatment mode allows a first degree of motion in the spine and said second treatment mode allows a second degree of motion in the spine.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said first and second degrees of motion include compressive force along a longitudinal axis of the spine.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said dynamic spinal treatment system is implanted in the body adjacent the spinal segment.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said first degree of motion is greater than said second degree of motion.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein in said second degree of motion is greater than said first degree of motion.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the mechanical stabilization of the spine permits rotation and said first and second degrees of motion include rotation of spinal segment.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said dynamic spinal treatment system is implanted in the body adjacent the spinal segment.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said first degree of motion is greater than said second degree of motion.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein in said second degree of motion is greater than said first degree of motion.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein said sensor is adapted to detect the instantaneous axis of rotation of the spinal segment and said dynamic spinal treatment system adjusts between a first treatment mode with a first instantaneous axis of rotation and a second treatment mode with a second instantaneous axis of rotation.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said dynamic spinal treatment system includes at least a first treatment compound.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said first treatment mode includes releasing said first treatment compound at a first concentration and said second treatment mode includes releasing said first treatment compound at a second concentration.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein said dynamic spinal treatment system includes at least a second treatment compound, and said first treatment mode includes releasing said first treatment compound and said second treatment mode includes releasing said second treatment compound.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said dynamic spinal treatment system includes a first reservoir with said first treatment compound and a second reservoir with said second treatment compound.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said first treatment compound and said second treatment compound are substantially the same material.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said first treatment compound has a first material property and said second treatment compound has a second material property, said first material property different than said second material property.

18. A method of treating a spinal condition in a spinal segment of a human body, comprising:

providing a sensor configured for implantation in the body adjacent a spinal segment and a dynamic treatment system configured for communication with the sensor;

implanting the sensor in the body adjacent a spinal segment;

placing the dynamic treatment system in a first treatment mode;

sensing characteristics of the spinal segment with the sensor;

sending a sensor signal to the dynamic treatment system; and

adjusting the dynamic treatment system to a second treatment mode in response to the sensor signal.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said dynamic treatment system includes mechanical stabilization of the spinal segment and said adjusting includes changing the stabilization of the spinal segment to the second mode.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said dynamic treatment system includes a treatment compound and said adjusting includes changing delivery of the treatment compound to the second mode.

21. A system for treating a portion of a skeletal system within a patient, the system comprising

a sensor having a sensing element with an outer housing, the outer housing including surface features for engaging a portion of the skeletal system to maintain a first position on the skeletal system, said sensing element generating a sensor signal in response to a sensed characteristic of the skeletal system;

and

a dynamic treatment system having at least a first treatment mode and a second treatment mode, said dynamic treatment system in communication with said sensor and responsive to said sensor signal to control said treatment system from said first treatment mode to said second treatment mode.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein said dynamic treatment system is a lengthening intramedullary nail having a first length and a second length, said sensor sensing calcification of bone across a fracture line and said intramedullary nail controlled between said first length and said second length.

29. The system of claim 21, wherein the dynamic treatment system is a bone growth stimulator for electrically stimulating bone.

30. The system of claim 21, wherein said dynamic treatment system includes at least a first treatment compound.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein said first treatment mode includes releasing said first treatment compound at a first concentration and said second treatment mode includes releasing said first treatment compound at a second concentration.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein said dynamic spinal treatment system includes at least a second treatment compound, and said first treatment mode includes releasing said first treatment compound and said second treatment mode includes releasing said second treatment compound.

33. The system of claim 21, wherein said dynamic treatment system includes a first reservoir with said first treatment compound and a second reservoir with said second treatment compound.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein said first treatment compound and said second treatment compound are substantially the same material.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein said first treatment compound has a first material property and said second treatment compound has a second material property, said first material property different than said second material property.

22. The system of claim 22, wherein said dynamic treatment system includes a mechanical stabilization device to stabilize a of the portion of the skeletal system and said first treatment mode allows a first degree of motion in the skeletal system and said second treatment mode allows a second degree of motion in the skeletal system.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said first and second degrees of motion include compressive force along a longitudinal axis of the portion of the skeletal system.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said dynamic treatment system is implanted in the body adjacent the portion of the skeletal system.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein said mechanical stabilization device permits articulation of a joint and said first and second degrees of motion include articulation of said joint.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said mechanical stabilization device is an artificial knee.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein said mechanical stabilization device is an artificial spinal disc.