Sensored Prosthetic Component and Method

• US 20140171754A1
• Filed: 02/17/2014
• Published: 06/19/2014
• 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, Chase, Andrew, Keggi, John, Bonnheim, Noah, Burkhard, Natalie, Henson, Philip
• Granted Patent: US 9,492,115 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• 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 5/4851 Prosthesis assessment or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6846 specially adapted to be brought in contact with an internal body part, i.e. invasive

Abstract

A prosthetic component suitable for long-term implantation is provided. The prosthetic component includes electronic circuitry and sensors to measure a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system. The prosthetic component comprises a first structure having at least one support surface, a second structure having at least one feature configured to couple to bone. The electronic circuitry and sensors are hermetically sealed within the prosthetic component. Sensors can be used to monitor synovial fluid in proximity to the joint to determine joint health. The prosthetic component can include a temperature sensor, a pH sensor, and an optical sensor. The temperature, pH, color, and turbidity of the synovial fluid can be correlated to a variety of joint conditions. Measurements over time can be analyzed for trends. The temperature, pH, color, and tubidity can be calibrated for the patient. The measurements are compared against this patient reference.

Claims

1. A prosthetic component comprising:

a temperature sensor configured to couple to synovial fluid in proximity to the prosthetic component;

at least one optical sensor; and

electronic circuitry coupled to the temperature sensor and the at least one optical sensor where the electronic circuitry is housed in the prosthetic component where the temperature sensor is configured to monitor synovial fluid temperature, where the at least one optical sensor is configured to monitor synovial fluid, and where measurement data from the temperature sensor and the at least one optical sensor is used to determine a presence of an infection.

2. The prosthetic component of claim 1 where the electronic circuitry is configured to transmit temperature data to a remote system.

3. The prosthetic component of claim 2 where a remote system is configured to track a rate of change in temperature measured by the temperature sensor.

4. The prosthetic component of claim 1 where the prosthetic component includes a transmissive region.

5. The prosthetic component of claim 4 where the transmissive region is transmissive to light.

6. The prosthetic component of claim 5 where the transmissive region comprises a portion of a housing of the prosthetic component.

7. The prosthetic component of claim 1 further including at least one light emitting diode coupled to the electronic circuitry and where the at least one light emitting diode is configured to emit light through the transmissive region of the prosthetic component.

8. The prosthetic component of claim 1 where the at least one optical sensor is configured to support detection of synovial fluid color in proximity to the prosthetic component.

9. The prosthetic component of claim 1 where the at least one optical sensor is configured to support detection synovial fluid turbidity in proximity to the prosthetic component.

10. A prosthetic component comprising:

a temperature sensor configured to couple to synovial fluid in proximity to the prosthetic component;

at least one optical sensor configured to support detection of synovial fluid color; and

electronic circuitry coupled to the temperature sensor and the at least one optical sensor where the electronic circuitry is housed in the prosthetic component, where the temperature sensor is configured to monitor synovial fluid temperature, and where measurement data from the temperature sensor and the at least one optical sensor is used to determine a presence of an infection.

11. The prosthetic component of claim 10 where the electronic circuitry is configured to transmit data from the temperature sensor and the at least one optical sensor to a remote system and where the remote system is configured to monitor changes in temperature and color to determine the presence of infection.

12. The prosthetic component of claim 10 where the prosthetic component includes a transmissive region.

13. The prosthetic component of claim 12 where the transmissive region is transmissive to light, and where the transmissive region comprises a portion of a housing of the prosthetic component.

14. The prosthetic component of claim 10 where at least one light emitting diode is coupled to the electronic circuitry and where the at least one light emitting diode is configured to illuminate synovial fluid in proximity to the prosthetic component.

15. The prosthetic component of claim 10 where the at least one optical sensor further supports detection of synovial fluid turbidity.

16. A prosthetic component comprising:

a temperature sensor configured to couple to synovial fluid in proximity to the prosthetic component;

at least one optical sensor configured to support measurement of synovial fluid turbidity; and

electronic circuitry coupled to the temperature sensor and the at least one optical sensor where the electronic circuitry is housed in the prosthetic component, where the temperature sensor is configured to monitor synovial fluid temperature, and where measurement data from the temperature sensor and the at least one optical sensor is used to determine a presence of an infection.

18. The prosthetic component of claim 16 where the prosthetic component includes a region transmissive to light and where the transmission region comprises a portion of a housing of the prosthetic component.

19. The prosthetic component of claim 16 where at least one light emitting diode is coupled to the electronic circuitry and where the at least one light emitting diode is configured to illuminate synovial fluid in proximity to the prosthetic component.

20. The prosthetic component of claim 16 where the at least one optical sensor further supports detection of synovial fluid color.

17. The prosthetic component of 16 where the electronic circuitry is configured to transmit temperature data and turbidity data to a remote system and where the remote system is configured to monitor changes in temperature and turbidity to determine the presence of the infection.