ARTIFICIAL BODY PART INCLUDING BIO-MEDICAL UNITS

• US 20110077700A1
• Filed: 12/29/2009
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: ROFOUGARAN, AHMADREZA (REZA)
• Application Number:
  US12/649,030
• Publication Number:
  US 20110077700A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/00 Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment instruments measuring radiation intensity for application in the field of nuclear medicine, e.g. in vivo counting, G01T1/161; apparatus for taking X-ray photographs G03B42/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0009 involving or responsive to electricity, magnetism or acoustic waves; Galenical aspects of sonophoresis, iontophoresis, electroporation or electroosmosis microelectromechanical systems A61K9/0097
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0007 having means for enhancing the permeation of substances through the epidermis, e.g. using suction or depression, electric or magnetic fields, sound waves or chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3507 with implanted devices, e.g. external control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/325 for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body electrodes for external use A61N1/0428
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/002 in combination with another treatment
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

An artificial body part system includes an artificial body part and a bio-medical unit. The artificial body part includes a bio-medical mounting mechanism. The bio-medical unit is mechanically associated with the artificial body part based on the bio-medical mounting mechanism. The bio-medical unit includes a power harvesting module, a wireless communication module, and a functional module. The power harvesting module is operable to generate a supply voltage from a wireless source. The wireless communication module is operable to wirelessly communicate inbound data and outbound data. The functional module is operable to perform at least one function regarding the artificial body part, wherein the functional module performs the at least one function in response to the inbound data or to generate the outbound data.

Claims

1. An artificial body part system comprises:

an artificial body part having a bio-medical mounting mechanism; and

a bio-medical unit mechanically associated with the artificial body part based on the bio-medical mounting mechanism, wherein the bio-medical unit includes;

a power harvesting module operable to generate a supply voltage from a wireless source;

a wireless communication module operable to wirelessly communicate inbound data and outbound data; and

a functional module operable to perform at least one function regarding the artificial body part, wherein the functional module performs the at least one function in response to the inbound data or to generate the outbound data.

2. The artificial body part system of claim 1, wherein the artificial body part comprises one or more of:

an electronic medical aid device;

a metal artificial bone;

a non-metal artificial bone;

a metal screw;

a non-metal screw;

a metal plate;

a non-metal plate;

a metal splint;

a non-metal splint;

a metal suture;

a non-metal suture; and

an adhesive suture.

3. The artificial body part system of claim 1, wherein the bio-medical unit further comprises at least one of:

a coil; and

an antenna, wherein the at least one of the coil and antenna is operably coupled to at least one of the power harvesting module and the wireless communication module and wherein the at least one of the coil and antenna is at least partially embedded within the artificial body part.

4. The artificial body part system of claim 1, wherein the bio-medical unit further comprises at least one of:

a coil; and

an antenna, wherein the at least one of the coil and antenna is operably coupled to at least one of the power harvesting module and the wireless communication module and wherein the artificial body part functions as the at least one of the coil and the antenna.

5. The artificial body part system of claim 1, wherein the at least one function comprises at least one of:

a treatment function, an adjustment function, a diagnostic function, a sampling function, and a monitoring function.

6. The artificial body part system of claim 5, wherein the treatment function comprises at least one of:

applying a medication;

applying a laser treatment;

applying an ultrasound treatment; and

applying an electronic stimulation treatment.

7. The artificial body part system of claim 5, wherein the adjustment function comprises at least one of:

adjusting force of the artificial body part; and

adjusting torque of the artificial body part.

8. The artificial body part system of claim 1, wherein the functional module further functions to perform the at least one function regarding the artificial body part to generate the outbound data in accordance with a command contained in the inbound data.

9. The artificial body part system of claim 1 further comprises:

the artificial body part having at least one cavity to provide the bio-medical mounting mechanism, wherein the bio-medical unit is positioned within the cavity.

10. The artificial body part system of claim 1 further comprises:

the artificial body part having a surface mount area to provide the bio-medical mounting mechanism, wherein the bio-medical unit is positioned at least partially on the surface mount area.

11. The artificial body part system of claim 1 further comprises:

a plurality of bio-medical units that includes the bio-medical unit, wherein a first bio-medical unit of the plurality of bio-medical units performs a treatment function;

wherein a second bio-medical unit of the plurality of bio-medical units performs an adjustment function;

wherein a third bio-medical unit of the plurality of bio-medical units performs a diagnostic function;

wherein a fourth bio-medical unit of the plurality of bio-medical units performs a sampling function; and

wherein a fifth bio-medical unit of the plurality of bio-medical units performs a monitoring function.

12. A bio-medical unit for use with an artificial body part, the bio-medical unit comprises:

a power harvesting module operable to generate a supply voltage from a wireless source;

a wireless communication module operable to wirelessly communicate inbound data and outbound data; and

a functional module operable to perform at least one function regarding the artificial body part, wherein the functional module performs the at least one function in response to the inbound data or to generate the outbound data.

13. The bio-medical unit of claim 12 further comprises at least one of:

a coil; and

an antenna, wherein the at least one of the coil and antenna is operably coupled to at least one of the power harvesting module and the wireless communication module and wherein the at least one of the coil and antenna is at least partially embedded within the artificial body part.

14. The bio-medical unit of claim 12 further comprises at least one of:

a coil; and

an antenna, wherein the at least one of the coil and antenna is operably coupled to at least one of the power harvesting module and the wireless communication module and wherein the artificial body part functions as the at least one of the coil and the antenna.

15. The bio-medical unit of claim 12, wherein the at least one function comprises at least one of:

a treatment function, an adjustment function, a diagnostic function, a sampling function, and a monitoring function.

16. The bio-medical unit of claim 15, wherein the treatment function comprises at least one of:

applying a medication;

applying a laser treatment;

applying an ultrasound treatment; and

applying an electronic stimulation treatment.

17. The bio-medical unit of claim 15, wherein the adjustment function comprises at least one of:

adjusting force of the artificial body part; and

adjusting torque of the artificial body part.

18. The bio-medical unit of claim 12, wherein the functional module further functions to perform the at least one function regarding the artificial body part to generate the outbound data in accordance with a command contained in the inbound data.