WIRELESS POWER MODULATION TELEMETRY FOR MEASURING A PARAMETER OF THE MUSCULAR-SKELETAL SYSTEM

• US 20100328077A1
• Filed: 06/29/2010
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Howmedica Osteonics Corp. (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: OrthoSensor, Inc (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Stein, Marc
• Granted Patent: US 9,125,627 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4509 Bone density determination
• 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: A61B 5/6878 Bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7239 using differentiation including higher order derivatives
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/15 Transmission-tomography

Abstract

A sensing insert device (100) is disclosed for measuring a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system. The sensing insert device (100) can be temporary or permanent. Used intra-operatively, the sensing insert device (100) comprises an insert dock 202 and a sensing module 200. The sensing module (200) is a self-contained encapsulated measurement device having at least one contacting surface that couples to the muscular-skeletal system. The sensing module (200) comprises one or more sensors (303), electronic circuitry (307), and communication circuitry (320). The electronic circuitry (307) operatively couples to the one or more sensors (303) to measure the parameter. A transmitter (309) transmits parameter measurements. An induction coil (1404) is coupled electromagnetically to a wireless energy source (1402). The induction coil converts electromagnetic energy waves to a signal that powers the sensing module (200). The signal includes information or data. The signal is demodulated to capture the data or information.

Claims

1. A system to measure a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system including a sensing module having two-way communication capability comprising a transmitter to transmit information via a radio frequency signal and an induction coil to receive information through electromagnetic coupling.

2. The system of claim 1 where the sensing module further includes:

one or more sensors for coupling to the muscular-skeletal system;

electronic circuitry operatively coupled to the sensors; and

the transmitter coupled to the electronic circuitry for receiving parameter measurements to transmit.

3. The system of claim 2 where the transmitter wirelessly sends one or more data packets and where each data packet comprises parameter measurements and a priority level.

4. The system of claim 2 where an electromagnetic signal is received by the induction coil from an external wireless energy source and where the electromagnetic signal charges a capacitor for storing energy to power the sensing module.

5. The system of claim 4 further including:

a rectifier coupled to the induction coil to rectify the electromagnetic signal;

a regulator coupled to the rectifier;

the capacitor coupled to the regulator where the regulator regulates a voltage on the capacitor; and

power management circuitry operatively coupled to the electronic circuitry and the capacitor.

6. The system of claim 1 where an electromagnetic signal is received by the induction coil from an external wireless energy source where demodulation is used to remove a data or information signal from the electromagnetic signal.

7. The system of claim 6 where the external wireless energy source includes a modulation circuit to couple data or information on the electromagnetic signal and where the external wireless energy source includes at least one data input.

8. The system of claim 6 where the transmit information and the receive information are wirelessly sent at different frequencies.

9. The system of claim 8 where transmit information and receive information are transmitted and received simultaneously.

10. The system of claim 9 where the receive information sets a control operation of the sensing module.

11. A method to provide a data downlink to a sensing module coupled to the muscular-skeletal system comprising the steps of:

modulating input data on a power signal;

transmitting the power signal to the sensing module;

receiving the power signal on the sensing module;

charging a power source to power the sensing module with the power signal; and

demodulating the input data from the power signal.

12. The method of claim 11 further including the steps of:

acquiring input data on an external wireless energy source; and

encoding input data to include data security.

13. The method of claim 12 further including the steps of:

sensing electromagnetic energy waves on at least one induction coil in the sensing module;

generating a receive power signal from the induction coil;

charging a capacitor with the receive power signal from the at least one induction coil where the capacitor powers the sensing module; and

decoding the input data.

14. The method of claim 13 further including a step of controlling at least one operation of the sensing module with the input data.

15. The method of claim 14 further the steps of:

measuring at least one parameter of the muscular-skeletal system; and

transmitting measured parameter data.

16. An insert device for coupling to the muscular-skeletal system comprising:

a surface on the insert device allowing articulation of the muscular-skeletal system; and

a sensing module coupled to the insert device for measuring a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system where the sensing module includes;

one or more sensors for coupling to the muscular-skeletal system;

electronic circuitry operatively coupled to the sensors;

an induction coil coupled to the electronic circuitry.

17. The insert device of claim 16 where electromagnetic energy waves generate a signal in the induction coil and where demodulation is used to remove data or information from the signal.

18. The insert device of claim 17 where the sensing module further includes:

a rectifier coupled to the induction coil to rectify the signal;

a regulator coupled to the rectifier;

a capacitor coupled to the regulator where the regulator regulates a voltage on the capacitor; and

power management circuitry operatively coupled to the electronic circuitry and the capacitor.

19. The insert device of claim 17 where the data or information is provided to the electronic circuitry to control at least one operation of the sensing module.

20. The insert device of claim 17 sensing module further includes a transmitter coupled to the electronic circuitry for receiving parameter measurements to transmit and where energy received from the signal charges the capacitor to power the sensing module.