Coded-sequence activation of surgical implants

• US 20080207983A1
• Filed: 02/22/2007
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Smith, Michael A., Weaver, Thomas A., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Boyden, Edward S., Rivet, Dennis J., Hyde, Roderick A., Leuthardt, Eric C., Wood, Lowell L.
• Application Number:
  US11/710,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20080207983A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile

Abstract

Implants responsive to spatiotemporal signal sequences, and methods of operating implants by transmitting spatiotemporal signal sequences.

Claims

1. A device for implantation in a body, comprising:

a receiver responsive to a selected spatiotemporal signal sequence to produce an activation signal; and

a member responsive to the activation signal to shift from a first mechanical configuration to a second mechanical configuration.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the selected spatiotemporal signal sequence includes a sequence of magnetic fields.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the selected spatiotemporal signal sequence includes a sequence of electric fields.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the selected spatiotemporal signal sequence includes a sequence of acoustic signals.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the selected spatiotemporal signal sequence includes a sequence of electromagnetic signals.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the selected spatiotemporal signal sequence includes a sequence of optical signals.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the selected spatiotemporal signal sequence includes a series of spatially separated input signals.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the selected spatiotemporal signal sequence includes a series of temporally separated input signals.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the member is configured to engage a bony structure.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein the member is configured to change the shape of the bony structure.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the member includes a tissue expander.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the member includes an intralumenal device.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the intralumenal device includes a stent.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein the intralumenal device is configured to traverse a lumen and comprises a physiological sensor.

23. The device of claim 1, wherein the member includes a shunt.

26. The device of claim 1, wherein the member includes a drug reservoir.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the member is configured to dispense a drug from the drug reservoir by shifting from the first mechanical configuration to the second mechanical configuration.

28. The device of claim 1, wherein the member includes an artificial joint.

29. The device of claim 1, wherein the member includes a gastric band.

30. The device of claim 1, wherein the member includes an artificial sphincter.

31. The device of claim 1, wherein the member includes an orthodontic appliance.

32. The device of claim 1, wherein the member includes a cosmetic implant.

34. The device of claim 1, wherein the member is configured to accommodate growth of the body.

9-11. -11. (canceled)

13-14. -14. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

24-25. -25. (canceled)

33. (canceled)

35. A device for providing a coded signal to an implant in a body, comprising:

a plurality of signaling units having a selected spatial arrangement, wherein the signaling units are arranged to deliver a spatiotemporal signal sequence corresponding to the coded signal.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein the spatiotemporal signal sequence includes a spatial arrangement of magnetic fields.

37. The device of claim 35, wherein the spatiotemporal signal sequence includes a temporal arrangement of magnetic fields.

38. The device of claim 35, wherein the spatiotemporal signal sequence includes an arrangement of electromagnetic fields.

39. The device of claim 35, wherein the signaling units are arranged to deliver a plurality of different spatiotemporal signal sequences.

40. The device of claim 35, wherein the spatiotemporal signal sequence includes at least two different signal modes selected from the group consisting of magnetic fields, electric fields, electromagnetic fields, optical signals, and acoustic signals.

41. The device of claim 35, wherein the device is configured to conform to a surface of the body.

42. The device of claim 35, wherein the device is configured to be secured to the body.

43-44. -44. (canceled)

45. A method of treating a patient having a surgical implant in the patient'"'"'s body of a type responsive to a spatiotemporal signal sequence to change from a first mechanical configuration to a second mechanical configuration, comprising:

directing a series of signals corresponding to the spatiotemporal sequence into the patient'"'"'s body.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the series of signals includes a sequence of magnetic fields.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the series of signals includes a sequence of electric fields.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein the series of signals includes a sequence of electromagnetic fields.

49. The method of claim 45, wherein the series of signals includes a sequence of acoustic signals.

50. The method of claim 45, wherein the series of signals includes a sequence of optical signals.

51. The method of claim 45, wherein the series of signals includes a series of spatially separated input signals.

52. The method of claim 45, wherein the series of signals includes a sequence of temporally separated input signals.

53. The method of claim 45, wherein there are a plurality of surgical implants in the patient'"'"'s body, and wherein fewer than all of the surgical implants are responsive to the spatiotemporal signal sequence.

55. The method of claim 45, further comprising measuring a physiological parameter of the patient, wherein directing the series of signals into the patient'"'"'s body includes directing the series of signals in response to the measured physiological parameter.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the measured physiological parameter is selected from the group consisting of blood pressure, heart rhythm, breathing rhythm, neurological activity, blood flow, blood oxygenation, end tidal CO₂, pressure, viscosity, joint angle, vertebral angle, spinal angle, mechanical stress, shear, torque, distance between selected reference points, mechanical strain, modulus, and compressibility.

57. The method of claim 45, wherein the surgical implant is configured to engage one or more vertebrae.

60. The method of claim 57, wherein the surgical implant is configured to change the relative position of at least two vertebrae.

61. The method of claim 45, wherein the surgical implant is configured to engage a bony structure.

64. The method of claim 45, wherein changing from the first mechanical configuration to the second mechanical configuration includes disengaging a retaining pin.

65. The method of claim 45, wherein the patient is human.

66. The method of claim 45, wherein the patient is an animal.

67. The method of claim 45, wherein the patient is an adult.

68. The method of claim 45, wherein the patient is a juvenile.

69. The method of claim 45, wherein the surgical implant is selected from the group consisting of a tooth implant, a tissue expander, an intralumenal device, a stent, a shunt, a gastrointestinal camera, a drug reservoir, an artificial joint, a gastric band, an artificial sphincter, an orthodontic appliance, a cosmetic implant, a lip augment, a breast augment, a pectoral augment, and a deltoid augment.

54. (canceled)

58-59. -59. (canceled)

62-63. -63. (canceled)

70-81. -81. (canceled)