Apparatus, System, and Method for Controlling Movement of an Orthopedic Joint Prosthesis in a Mammalian Subject

• US 20140303538A1
• Filed: 04/08/2013
• Published: 10/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Baym, Michael H., Hyde, Roderick A., Sweeney, Elizabeth A., Wood, Lowell L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,439,797 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/23
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1121 Determining geometric values, e.g. centre of rotation or angular range of movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6812 Orthopaedic devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/28 Bones joints A61F2/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30 Joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0102 specially adapted for correcting deformities of the limbs or for supporting them; Ortheses, e.g. with articulations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0125 the device articulating around a single pivot-point

Abstract

Apparatus, system, and method are disclosed herein for controlling movement of an orthopedic joint prosthesis in a mammalian subject. The apparatus, system, or method includes an orthopedic brace configured to control movement of an orthopedic joint prosthesis. The apparatus, system, or method includes one or more sensors and one or more controllers in communication with the one or more sensors. The one or more sensors are configured to be remote from the orthopedic joint prosthesis, wherein the one or more sensors in communication with the one or more controllers are configured to detect and control one or more alignment orientations of the orthopedic joint prosthesis.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an orthopedic brace including a first member and a second member, wherein the first member is configured to control movement of a first component of an orthopedic joint prosthesis relative to the second member configured to control movement of a second component of the orthopedic joint prosthesis;

one or more sensors configured to be remote from the orthopedic joint prosthesis, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to detect one or more alignment orientations of the first component relative to the second component of the orthopedic joint prosthesis;

one or more controllers in communication with the one or more sensors, wherein the one or more sensors report the one or more alignment orientations to the one or more controllers, and the one or more controllers are configured to control activity of the first member relative to the second member of the orthopedic brace, and wherein the orthopedic brace is configured to adjust the one or more alignment orientations of the first component relative to the second component of the orthopedic joint prosthesis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the orthopedic brace is configured to permit unrestrained motion of the orthopedic joint prosthesis under a first set of the one or more alignment orientations, and the orthopedic brace is configured to permit restrained motion of the orthopedic joint prosthesis under a second set of the one or more alignment orientations.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first set of the one or more alignment orientations includes physiologically normal alignment of the orthopedic joint prosthesis.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second set of the one or more alignment orientations includes physiologically abnormal alignment of the orthopedic joint prosthesis.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second set of the one or more alignment orientations includes a misalignment of the first component relative to the second component of the orthopedic joint prosthesis.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second set of the one or more alignment orientations includes a separation of the first component relative to the second component of the orthopedic joint prosthesis.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the restrained motion comprises a stopped motion of the orthopedic joint prosthesis.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the restrained motion comprises a motion from the second set of the one or more alignment orientations towards the first set of the one or more alignment orientations.

9. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the restrained motion comprises a reduction of one or more alignment differences between the second set of the one or more alignment orientations and the first set of the one or more alignment orientations.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising one or more force-applying elements configured to control movement of the first member relative to the second member of the orthopedic brace, wherein the one or more force-applying elements in response to the one or more controllers are configured to permit unrestrained motion of the orthopedic joint prosthesis under a first set of the one or more alignment orientations and are configured to permit restrained motion of the orthopedic joint prosthesis under a second set of the one or more alignment orientations.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the one or more controllers are configured to control application of force to the orthopedic joint prosthesis by the one or more force-applying elements.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the one or more force-applying elements are configured to exert force on the first component relative to the second component of the orthopedic joint prosthesis.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the one or more force-applying elements are configured to exert linear force or rotational force on the orthopedic joint prosthesis.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising one or more second sensors configured to contact the orthopedic joint prosthesis, wherein the one or more second sensors are configured to detect the one or more alignment orientations of the orthopedic joint prosthesis.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to be located within an environment of the orthopedic brace.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to be located on the floor, wall or furniture within the environment.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to detect the one or more alignment orientations of the orthopedic joint prosthesis based upon detecting one or more alignment orientations of the orthopedic brace.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to detect the one or more alignment orientations of the orthopedic joint prosthesis based upon detecting one or more alignment orientations of portions of a human body containing the orthopedic joint prosthesis.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to measure one or more properties of tissue of a mammalian subject surrounding the orthopedic joint prosthesis.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to measure strain on one or more of ligament, muscle, or bone of the mammalian subject surrounding the orthopedic joint prosthesis.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more of electrical energy sensors, magnetic sensors, electromagnetic energy sensors, optical sensors, or sonic energy sensors.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the one or more sonic energy sensors comprise one or more ultrasonic sensors.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the one or more ultrasonic sensors are configured to determine a separation between the first component and the second component of the orthopedic joint prosthesis.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the one or more magnetic sensors are configured to determine a separation between the first component and the second component of the orthopedic joint prosthesis.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the one or more magnetic sensors are configured to determine a movement between the first component and the second component of the orthopedic joint prosthesis.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the one or more ultrasonic sensors are configured to determine a movement between the first component and the second component of the orthopedic joint prosthesis.

27. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the one or more electromagnetic energy sensors comprise one or more of radio, visible, ultraviolet, infrared, or near infrared wavelength sensors.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the one or more radio wavelength sensors are configured to determine a separation between the first component and the second component of the orthopedic joint prosthesis.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the one or more radio wavelength sensors are configured to determine a movement between the first component and the second component of the orthopedic joint prosthesis.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the one or more electromagnetic energy sensors comprise one or more interferometric sensors configured to detect a separation between the first component and the second component of the orthopedic joint prosthesis.

31. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the one or more energy based sensors are configured to detect one or more of positioning, disposition, attitude, movement, friction or temperature of the orthopedic joint prosthesis.

32. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to detect one or more of pressure, angle, motion, strain, flexion, extension, position, force, speed, acceleration, or temperature of the orthopedic joint prosthesis.

33. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors include one or more capacitive sensors.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the one or more capacitive sensors are configured to detect a separation between the first component and the second component of the orthopedic joint prosthesis.

35. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the orthopedic brace comprises one or more mechanical or rheological mechanisms.

36. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to detect one or more of chemical change or biological change in a mammalian subject.

37. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising one or more environmental sensors configured to detect at least one of a change in an orientation of a subject'"'"'s position in an environment and one or more alignment orientations of the first component relative to the second component of the orthopedic joint prosthesis, wherein the one or more environmental sensors are configured to inform the one or more controllers.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the one or more environmental sensors are configured to inform the one or more sensors or the one or more controllers.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the one or more sensors or the one or more controllers are configured to be activated in response to a signal from the one or more environmental sensors.

40. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a power source.

41. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising the one or more controllers configured to use information from a model of one or more of a limb or a joint of the mammalian subject, wherein the one or more controllers are configured to predict future actions or consequences of movement of the orthopedic brace.

42. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the orthopedic brace comprises a mechanism external to a mammalian subject.

43. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the orthopedic brace comprises a mechanism internal to a mammalian subject.

44. A system comprising:

an orthopedic brace including a first member and a second member, wherein the first member is configured to control movement of a first component of an orthopedic joint prosthesis relative to the second member configured to control movement of a second component of the orthopedic joint prosthesis;

one or more sensors configured to be remote from the orthopedic joint prosthesis, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to detect one or more alignment orientations of the first component relative to the second component of the orthopedic joint prosthesis;

one or more controllers in communication with the one or more sensors, wherein the one or more sensors report the one or more alignment orientations to the one or more controllers and the one or more controllers are configured to control activity of the first member relative to the second member of the orthopedic brace and wherein the orthopedic brace is configured to adjust the one or more alignment orientations of the first component relative to the second component of the orthopedic joint prosthesis.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the orthopedic brace is configured to permit unrestrained motion of the orthopedic joint prosthesis under a first set of the one or more alignment orientations, and the orthopedic brace is configured to permit restrained motion of the orthopedic joint prosthesis under a second set of the one or more alignment orientations.

46-86. -86. (canceled)

87. A method for preventing dislocation of an orthopedic joint prosthesis in a mammalian subject comprising:

providing an orthopedic brace including a first member and a second member, wherein the first member is configured to control movement of a first component of an orthopedic joint prosthesis relative to the second member configured to control movement of a second component of the orthopedic joint prosthesis in the subject;

detecting one or more alignment orientations of the first component relative to the second component by one or more sensors in proximity to the first component and the second component of the orthopedic joint prosthesis, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to be remote the orthopedic joint prosthesis;

communicating on the one or more alignment orientations from the one or more sensors to one or more controllers; and

adjusting an alignment of the first component relative to the second component of the orthopedic joint prosthesis in response to a signal from the one or more controllers to the first member and the second member of the orthopedic brace.

96. The method of claim 87, comprising controlling movement of the first member relative to the second member of the orthopedic brace by one or more force-applying elements, wherein the one or more force-applying elements in response to the one or more controllers are configured to permit unrestrained motion of the orthopedic joint prosthesis under a first set of the one or more alignment orientations and are configured to permit restrained motion of the orthopedic joint prosthesis under a second set of the one or more alignment orientations.

121. The method of claim 87, comprising predicting future actions or consequences of movement of the orthopedic brace with the one or more controllers configured to use information from a model of one or more of a limb or a joint of the mammalian subject.

88-95. -95. (canceled)

97-120. -120. (canceled)

122. (canceled)

123. A device comprising:

a system including a signal-bearing medium including,

one or more instructions for treatment of a subject with an orthopedic brace including a first member and a second member, wherein the first member is configured to control movement of a first component of an orthopedic joint prosthesis relative to the second member configured to control movement of a second component of the orthopedic joint prosthesis;

one or more instructions for receiving data from one or more sensors configured to be remote from the orthopedic joint prosthesis, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to detect one or more alignment orientations of the first component relative to the second component of the orthopedic joint prosthesis;

one or more instructions for receiving data from one or more controllers in communication with the one or more sensors, wherein the one or more sensors report on the one or more alignment orientations to the one or more controllers, and the one or more controllers are configured to control activity of the first member relative to the second member of the orthopedic brace, and wherein the orthopedic brace is configured to adjust the one or more alignment orientations of the first component relative to the second component of the orthopedic joint prosthesis.

124-125. -125. (canceled)