Post-Operative Pain Inhibitor for Joint Replacement and Method Thereof

• US 20100100154A1
• Filed: 10/22/2009
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Martin Roche
• Original Assignee: Martin Roche
• Inventors: Roche, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 8,099,168 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/32 for the hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3603 implanted without ablation of the whole natural femoral head endoprosthetic cartilage A61F2/30756
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/38 for elbows or knees
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3859 Femoral components
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/40 for shoulders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/42 for wrists or ankles; for hands, e.g. fingers; for feet, e.g. toes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4657 Measuring instruments used for implanting artificial joints for surgical instruments A61B90/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4684 Trial or dummy prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3067 for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4658 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4666 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4668 for measuring angles
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4672 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0002 for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0502 : Skin piercing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 : with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 : for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3603 : Control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 : Pain

Abstract

A post-operative pain inhibitor system (100) comprises a controller (32) and leads (25, 27). Neuro-stimulator circuitry may be included within the patient controller 32 or within one or more prosthetic components (12, 13, 14) for generating a signal. The topical leads (27), percutaneous leads (25), subcutaneous leads (26), intraosseous leads (22) or leads placed on or within prosthetic components are coupled to neuro-stimulation circuitry (44) to stimulate peripheral nerve fibers such that the signal blocks body generated action potentials. Controller (32) can modify the pulse width, pulse shape, pulse repetition rate, and pulse amplitude of the signal thereby allowing the patient to adapt the signal to minimize their perceived pain.

Claims

1. A post-operative pain inhibitor system for post-operative treatment of a surgically implanted joint comprising:

at least one current injecting component coupled in proximity to an operative field of an implanted joint where the current injecting component couples to a portion of the peripheral nerve fibers; and

a controller operatively coupled to the at least one current injecting component, where a current injected by the at least one current injecting component corresponds to a signal from the controller, where the current injected blocks propagation of body generated action potentials, and where the controller is under patient control to electrically mediate pain relief.

2. The system of claim 1, where the at least one current injecting component injects a current to stimulate A-fibers of the peripheral nerve to block propagation of body generated action potentials in proximity to the operative field.

3. The system of claim 2, where the controller can modify at least one of a signal frequency and a signal amplitude under patient control.

4. The system of claim 3, where the signal of the at least one current injecting component is a pulse and where the controller can modify at least one of the pulse width, pulse shape, pulse repetition rate, and pulse amplitude under patient control.

5. The system of claim 4, where the at least one current injecting component is a bi-polar electrode and where the bi-polar electrode is coupled to the peripheral nerve fibers to inject the current and hyperpolarize the peripheral nerve fiber to block propagation of the body generated action potential.

6. The system of claim 3, where the at least one current injecting component is a tri-polar electrode, where the tri-polar electrode is coupled to the peripheral nerve fibers, where the tri-polar electrode has a first anode, a second anode, and a cathode, where the cathode couples to the peripheral nerve fiber between the first and second anodes, and where each of the first and second anodes provides a current.

7. The system of claim 6, where the controller can modify each current provided by the first and second anodes of the tri-polar electrode.

8. The system of claim 1, where the at least one current injecting component is attached topically in proximity to the operative field.

9. The system of claim 1, where the at least one current injecting component is attached in a subcutaneous or subfacial plane in proximity to the operative field.

10. The system of claim 1, where the at least one current injecting component is percutaneously attached in proximity to the operative field.

11. The system of claim 1, where the at least one current injecting component is attached intraosseously in proximity to the operative field.

12. The system of claim 1, where the surgically implanted joint includes at least one current injecting component that is coupled to the peripheral nerve fibers in proximity to the operative field.

13. The system of claim 1, further including one or more sensors coupled to the controller to monitor or effect at least one of temperature, perspiration, inflammatory markers, electromyogram signals, and swelling.

14. A joint implant comprising:

a first component; and

a second component that form a joint of a skeletal system where at least one of the first or second components includes a plurality of leads to pulse energy to peripheral nerve fibers in proximity to an operative field of the joint implant to block propagation of body generated action potentials related to pain.

15. The implant of claim 14, further including a controller coupled to the plurality of leads where the controller provides at least one signal corresponding to the pulsed energy and where the controller can modify at least one of the pulse width, pulse repetition rate, and pulse amplitude of the pulsed energy under patient control.

16. The implant of claim 15, where the at least one of the first and second component further includes:

a transmitter/receiver operatively coupled to the controller and the plurality of leads; and

a power source coupled to the transmitter/receiver.

17. The implant of claim 16, further including at least one intraosseus lead coupled to the controller.

18. The implant of claim 15, further including:

a femoral implant as the first component coupled to a distal end of a femur;

a tibial implant as the second component coupled to a proximal end of a tibia; and

an insert coupled between the femoral implant and the tibial implant where at least one of the femoral implant, tibial implant, or insert includes the plurality of leads.

19. The implant of claim 15, further including:

a femoral implant as the first component coupled to a proximal end of a femur;

an acetabular implant as the second component coupled to an acetabulum of a pelvis where at least one of the femoral implant or the acetabular includes the plurality of leads.

20. A knee implant comprising:

a femoral implant having at least one condyle surface;

an insert having a bearing surface that couples to the at least one condyle surface a second major surface; and

a tibial implant having a major surface that couples to the second major surface of the insert where at least one the femoral implant, insert, or tibial implant includes a plurality of leads to inject a current to a portion of peripheral nerve fibers in proximity to an operative field of the knee implant to block propagation of body generated action potentials related to pain.

21. The knee implant of claim 20, further including:

a transmitter/receiver coupled to the plurality of leads; and

a power source coupled to the transmitter/receiver and the plurality of leads.

22. The knee implant of claim 21 further including a controller coupled to the plurality of leads where the controller provides at least one signal corresponding to the current and where the controller can modify at least one of the pulse width, pulse repetition rate, pulse shape, and pulse amplitude of the current under patient control.

23. The knee implant of claim 22, further including at least one intraosseus lead coupled to the controller.

24. The knee implant of claim 22, further including at least one topical lead coupled to the controller.

25. The knee implant of claim 22, further including at least one subcutaneous lead coupled to the controller.