METHOD FOR MEASURING VARIOUS PARAMETERS OF BONES AND JOINTS
First Claim
1. A method of measuring a predetermined parameter of interest in a bone or joint of a subject'"'"'s body, comprising:
- embedding in the bone or joint an acoustical transmitter and an acoustical receiver spaced from said transmitter to define between them an acoustical transmission channel which includes a portion of the bone or joint exhibiting said predetermined parameter of interest;
measuring the transit time of an acoustical wave transmitted through said acoustical transmission channel from said transmitter to said receiver;
and utilizing said measured transit time to provide a measurement of said predetermined parameter of interest.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of measuring a predetermined parameter of interest in a bone or joint of a subject'"'"'s body, comprising embedding in the bone or joint an acoustical transmitter and an acoustical receiver spaced from the transmitter to define between them an acoustical transmission channel which includes a portion of the bone or joint exhibiting the predetermined parameter of interest, measuring the transit time of an acoustical wave transmitted through the acoustical transmission channel from the transmitter to the receiver, and utilizing the measured transit time to provide a measurement of the predetermined parameter of interest.
13 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method of measuring a predetermined parameter of interest in a bone or joint of a subject'"'"'s body, comprising:
-
embedding in the bone or joint an acoustical transmitter and an acoustical receiver spaced from said transmitter to define between them an acoustical transmission channel which includes a portion of the bone or joint exhibiting said predetermined parameter of interest; measuring the transit time of an acoustical wave transmitted through said acoustical transmission channel from said transmitter to said receiver; and utilizing said measured transit time to provide a measurement of said predetermined parameter of interest. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. An implantable sensor unit particularly useful for measuring a predetermined parameter of interest in a bone or joint of a subject'"'"'s body, comprising
an acoustical transmitter, an acoustical receiver spaced from said transmitter to define between them an acoustical transmission channel which includes a portion of the bone or joint exhibiting the predetermined parameter of interest; - an integrated circuit; and
a battery power supply for powering said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (16)
- an integrated circuit; and
-
17. An implantable system for measuring a predetermined parameter of interest in a bone or joint of a subject'"'"'s body, comprising:
-
an acoustical sensor including an acoustical transmitter and an acoustical receiver designed and dimensioned to be embedded in the bone or joint in spaced relationship from each other to define between them an acoustical transmission channel which includes a portion of the bone or joint exhibiting said predetermined parameter of interest; and an electronic control system for controlling the operation of said acoustical transmitter and acoustical receiver to measure the transit time of acoustical waves through said acoustical transmission channel, and for utilizing the measured transit time to provide a measurement of the predetermined parameter of interest. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
Specification