PULSED ECHO SENSING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR AN ORTHOPEDIC JOINT
First Claim
1. A pulsed echo mode measurement system comprising:
- one or more sensing assemblies;
a pulsed system;
one or more load surfaces; and
electronic circuitry, where the pulsed system maintains positive closed-loop feedback of pulsed energy waves in one or more energy propagating structures of the sensing assembly, where the system measures parameters of the muscular-skeletal system and where the pulsed energy waves are reflected at least once in the one or more energy propagating structures.
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Accused Products
Abstract
At least one embodiment is directed to a sensor for measuring a skeletal system. A signal path of the system comprises an amplifier (612), a sensor element, and an amplifier (620). The sensor element comprises a transducer (4), a waveguide (5), and a reflecting surface (30). An external condition is applied to the sensor element. For example, the sensor element is placed in an artificial orthopedic joint to measure loading of the joint. Pulsed energy waves are emitted by the transducer (4) into the waveguide (5) and the reflected back to be received by the transducer (4). The transit time of each pulsed energy wave corresponds to the external condition applied to the sensor. The transducer (4) outputs a signal corresponding to each pulsed energy wave. A detection circuit edge detects the signal and outputs a pulse to the transducer (4) to generate a new pulse energy wave.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A pulsed echo mode measurement system comprising:
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one or more sensing assemblies; a pulsed system; one or more load surfaces; and
electronic circuitry, where the pulsed system maintains positive closed-loop feedback of pulsed energy waves in one or more energy propagating structures of the sensing assembly, where the system measures parameters of the muscular-skeletal system and where the pulsed energy waves are reflected at least once in the one or more energy propagating structures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A sensor module comprising one or more sensors for sensing a muscular-skeletal system each sensor comprising:
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a transducer; a waveguide having a first surface and a second surface where the transducer couples to the first surface of the waveguide; and a reflective surface coupled to the second surface of the waveguide where pulsed energy waves propagate through the waveguide and where a transit time of a pulsed energy wave through the wave guide corresponds to one or more measured parameters of the muscular-skeletal system. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A sensor comprising:
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a first amplifier having an input and an output; a transducer having a terminal coupled to the output of the first amplifier; an energy wave propagation medium having a first surface coupled to the transducer and a second surface where the second surface is reflective; and a second amplifier having an input coupled to the transducer and an output coupled to the input of the first amplifier where the sensor measures parameters of the muscular-skeletal system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification