ORTHOPEDIC IMPLANT WITH SENSOR COMMUNICATIONS ANTENNA AND ASSOCIATED DIAGNOSTICS MEASURING, MONITORING, AND RESPONSE SYSTEM

• US 20100131067A1
• Filed: 11/24/2008
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: METCALF, Newton H. JR., MARIK, Greg C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,147,549 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.160
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• 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 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4514 Cartilage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/686 Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips A61B5/6861 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6878 Bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30744 End caps, e.g. for closing an endoprosthetic cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/441 made of inflatable pockets or chambers filled with fluid, e.g. with hydrogel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/442 Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient non-disc-shaped intervertebral inflatable pockets A61F2/441; non-disc-shaped intervertebral fusion implants A61F2/4455
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30092 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30481 using a locking clip
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30578 having apertures, e.g. for receiving fixation screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30668 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• 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 2210/0014 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0001 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys

Abstract

A diagnostic system is provided that occupies a small area, provides sensing and transmitting of various diagnostic indicia, and with the aid of a healthcare professional, diagnoses and responds to such measurements. In the context of the spine, the diagnostic system comprises a spinal implant situated between two adjacent vertebrae, an antenna for sending and/or receiving signals to and/or from a remote location, a sensor for measuring at least one diagnostic condition, an activating element that has the ability to affect the at least one diagnostic condition, a power source to provide power to the diagnostic system, and a network that electrically connects the antenna, sensor, activating element and battery source.

Claims

1. A diagnostic system for a spinal implant, the system comprising:

a spinal implant situated between two adjacent vertebrae;

an antenna located in, on or adjacent to the spinal implant for sending and/or receiving signals to and/or from a remote location;

a sensor located in, on or adjacent to the spinal implant for measuring at least one diagnostic condition in, on or adjacent to the implant;

an activating element located in, on or adjacent to the spinal implant that has the ability to affect the at least one diagnostic condition;

a power source located in, on or adjacent to the spinal implant to provide power to the diagnostic system; and

a network that electrically connects the antenna, sensor, activating element and battery source.

2. The diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the antenna is incorporated into a material that can be integrated into the spinal implant.

3. The diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the antenna is woven or interlaced in a fabric material.

4. The diagnostic system of claim 2, wherein the antenna and fabric material are incorporated into the spinal implant.

5. The diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one diagnostic condition may be any one of the following indicia;

loading information, pressure information, tension information, motion information, alignment or misalignment information, or temperature.

6. The diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein:

the activating element is such that the diagnostic system is capable of affecting the at least one diagnostic condition incrementally and/or in either direction.

7. The diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein:

the activating element is one of the following devices;

a hydrostatic pump or a shape memory alloy.

8. The diagnostic system of claim 6, wherein:

the activating element is a shape memory alloy and includes a device to increase temperature, wherein such device is connected to the shape memory alloy and is controlled by the addition or subtraction of power or electrical signals.

9. The diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein:

the implant is made of a flexible material.

10. A diagnostic system for the human body, the system comprising:

an implant situated in the human body;

an antenna located in, on or adjacent to the implant for sending and/or receiving signals to and/or from a remote location;

a sensor located in, on or adjacent to the implant for measuring at least one diagnostic condition in, on or adjacent to the implant;

an activating element located in, on or adjacent to the implant that has the ability to affect the at least one diagnostic condition;

a power source located in, on or adjacent to the implant to provide power to the diagnostic system; and

a network that electrically connects the antenna, sensor, activating element and battery source.

11. The diagnostic system of claim 10, wherein the implant is an orthopedic implant.

12. The diagnostic system of claim 10, wherein the antenna is woven or interlaced in a fabric material.

13. The diagnostic system of claim 12, wherein the antenna and fabric material are incorporated into the spinal implant.

14. The diagnostic system of claim 10, wherein:

the at least one diagnostic condition may be any one of the following indicia;

loading information, pressure information, tension information, motion information, alignment or misalignment information, or temperature.

15. The diagnostic system of claim 10, wherein the implant is made of a flexible material.

16. The diagnostic system of claim 10, wherein:

the activating element is such that the diagnostic system is capable of affecting the at least one diagnostic condition incrementally and/or in either direction.

17. A method of measuring and responding to a diagnostic condition, wherein the method comprises:

providing a diagnostic system comprising;

an implant situated in the human body;

an antenna located in, on or adjacent to the implant for sending and/or receiving signals to and/or from a remote location;

a sensor located in, on or adjacent to the implant for measuring the diagnostic condition in, on or adjacent to the implant;

an activating element located in, on or adjacent to the implant that has the ability to affect the diagnostic condition;

a power source located in, on or adjacent to the implant to provide power to the diagnostic system; and

a network that electrically connects the antenna, sensor, activating element and battery source; and

after the sensor measures the diagnostic condition and is routed via the network to the antenna where it is transmitted to a remote receiver, reading the sensing information from the remote receiver;

responding to the sensing information by sending a signal to the diagnostic system, which is received by the antenna, where it is then routed to the activating element, which will perform a desired function to affect the diagnostic condition.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises the step of relatively constant monitoring of the sensing information coming in to the remote receiver over a period of time.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the implant is an orthopedic implant.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the implant is a spinal implant.