TIBIAL TRAY ASSEMBLY HAVING A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE

• US 20090005876A1
• Filed: 06/29/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Caylor, Edward J. III, Dietz, Terry L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,080,064 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/20.360
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6846 specially adapted to be brought in contact with an internal body part, i.e. invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30721 Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3868 with sliding tibial bearing
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/389 Tibial components A61F2/3868 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30668 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30878 with non-sharp protrusions, for instance contacting the bone for anchoring, e.g. keels, pegs, pins, posts, shanks, stems, struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0001 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants

Abstract

A tibial tray assembly includes a platform having a stem extending downwardly from a bottom surface and a stem extension couple to the an end of the stem. The stem extension is electrically insulated from the stem. The tibial tray assembly also includes a wireless communication device configured to transmit data using the stem extension as an antenna.

Claims

1. A tibial tray assembly comprising:

a platform having an upper surface configured to receive a tibial insert;

a stem extending downwardly from a bottom surface of the platform;

a stem extension coupled to an end of the stem, the stem extension being electrically insulated from the stem; and

a wireless communication device configured to transmit data using the stem extension as an antenna.

2. The tibial tray assembly of claim 1, further comprising an electrical insulator coupled to the stem and the stem extension, the electrical insulator being positioned between the stem and the stem extension.

3. The tibial tray assembly of claim 2, wherein the electrical insulator is formed from a polyethylene material.

4. The tibial tray assembly of claim 1, wherein the stem and the stem extension are formed from the same material.

5. The tibial tray assembly of claim 1, wherein the stem extension is tuned to a quarter-wavelength of 2,450 Megahertz.

6. The tibial tray assembly of claim 1, wherein the stem extension has a length of about 1.2 inches.

7. The tibial tray assembly of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device is configured to transmit the data at a frequency of about 2,450 Megahertz using the stem extension as an antenna.

8. The tibial tray assembly of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device is configured to transmit the data a distance less than about ten feet at a signal level of about −

90 dBm.

9. The tibial tray assembly of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device is positioned in an internal cavity of the stem.

10. The tibial tray assembly of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device is configured to transmit the data in response to receipt of an interrogation signal.

11. The tibial tray assembly of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device comprises a transmitter and a sensor coupled to the transmitter, the transmitter being configured to transmit data generated by the sensor.

12. The tibial tray assembly of claim 1, further comprising an antenna wire electrically coupled to the wireless communication device and the stem extension.

13. An orthopaedic prosthesis comprising:

a tibial tray having a platform and a stem extending downwardly from a bottom surface of the platform;

a spacer coupleable to an end of the stem of the tibial tray, the spacer being formed from an electrically insulative material;

a stem extension coupleable to the spacer; and

a wireless communication device electrically coupled to the stem extension via an antenna wire and configured to transmit data using the stem extension as an antenna.

14. The orthopaedic prosthesis of claim 13, wherein the stem extension is tuned to a quarter wavelength of 2,450 Megahertz.

15. The orthopaedic prosthesis of claim 13, wherein the stem extension has a length of about 1.2 inches.

16. The orthopaedic prosthesis of claim 13, wherein the wireless communication device is configured to transmit the data at a frequency of about 2,450 Megahertz using the stem extension as an antenna.

17. The orthopaedic prosthesis of claim 13, wherein the wireless communication device is configured to transmit the data a distance less than about ten feet at a signal level of about −

90 dBm.

18. The orthopaedic prosthesis of claim 13, wherein the wireless communication device is configured to transmit the data in response to receipt of an interrogation signal.

19. The orthopaedic prosthesis of claim 13, wherein the wireless communication device comprises a transmitter and a sensor coupled to the transmitter, the transmitter being configured to transmit data generated by the sensor.

20. The orthopaedic prosthesis of claim 13, wherein the spacer includes a first threaded bore on a first end and a second threaded bore on a second end.

21. A tibial tray assembly comprising:

a platform having an upper surface configured to receive a tibial insert;

a stem extending downwardly from a bottom surface of the platform;

a stem extension coupled to an end of the stem;

an spacer coupled between the stem and the stem extension, the spacer electrically insulating the stem extension from the stem; and

a wireless communication device positioned in the stem and electrically coupled to the stem extension, the wireless communication device configured to transmit data using the stem extension as an antenna.