INSTRUMENTED ORTHOPEDIC AND OTHER MEDICAL IMPLANTS

• US 20140343350A1
• Filed: 05/28/2014
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IZEX Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IZEX Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Martinson, James B., Stark, John G., Hanson, Timothy J.B., Backes, Steven
• Application Number:
  US14/289,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20140343350A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/80 Cortical plates , i.e. bone plates; Instruments for holding or positioning cortical plates, or for compressing bones attached to cortical plates
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/03 Detecting, measuring or recording fluid pressure within the body other than blood pressure, e.g. cerebral pressure; Measuring pressure in body tissues or organs A61B5/205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4236 characterised by adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/08 Muscles; Tendons; Ligaments sutures A61B17/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/28 Bones joints A61F2/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30 Joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/32 for the hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/38 for elbows or knees
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/40 for shoulders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4202 for ankles
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4241 for hands, e.g. fingers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/442 Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient non-disc-shaped intervertebral inflatable pockets A61F2/441; non-disc-shaped intervertebral fusion implants A61F2/4455
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4455 for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages intervertebral discs A61F2/442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30133 kidney-shaped or bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3067 for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30677 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3068 : the pharmaceutical product being in a reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30754 : Implants for interposition between two natural articular surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30878 : with non-sharp protrusions, for instance contacting the bone for anchoring, e.g. keels, pegs, pins, posts, shanks, stems, struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30953 : using a remote computer network, e.g. Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4658 : for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4666 : for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4672 : for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0093 : programmed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0015 : Kidney-shaped, e.g. bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0002 : for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0068 : the pharmaceutical product being in a reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/12 : Devices for heating or cooling internal body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 : electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/30 : Apparatus for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body, or cataphoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/326 : for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 : characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 : Aspects of the external programmer
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37282 : characterised by communication with experts in remote locations using a network
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 : using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0659 : infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/00 : Radiation therapy ultrasound therapy A61N7/00; devices or apparatus applicable to both therapy and diagnosis A61B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 : Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 : Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092

Abstract

Medical implants can comprise various instrumentation to impart desirable functionality to the implant. In some embodiments, the implants comprise functional structures, such as sensors, energy propagating transducers, drug delivery systems and the like. Additional instrumentation to facilitate the functionality of these devices can include, for example, microprocessors, communication systems, power sources or the like. Drug delivery systems can comprise, for example, an isolated reservoir with a control system to control the delivery of a biological agent from the reservoir. The implants can be orthopedic implants that are designed to interface with a patient'"'"'s skeletal system wherein the orthopedic implant may itself embody sensors, processors, power supplies, memory and/or communication capability.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method for operating an implanted device, wherein the device comprises a transducer electrically coupled to a microprocessor, and wherein the method comprises:

delivering, by the transducer, energy to a site within a patient;

controlling, by the microprocessor, transmission of implant data corresponding to a condition within the patient to an external controller;

receiving instructions from the external controller regarding a future operation of the device, wherein the instructions are based on an evaluation of the transmitted implant data;

controlling, by the microprocessor, the delivery of the energy by the transducer; and

reprogramming the microprocessor based on the received instructions, the reprogramming relating to the control of the delivery of the energy by the transducer.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the implant data is transmitted over the internet.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the instructions are prepared automatically by a processor.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the transmission of the implant data comprises transmission to a patient communications hub and the patient communications hub exchanges information with the external controller.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the patient communications hub is ambulatory to the patient.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising, displaying, by the patient communications hub, information received from the external controller.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising receiving, by the patient communications hub, information from the patient.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising, transmitting, by the patient communications hub, the information from the patient to a central server.

29. A biocompatible implant device comprising:

a transducer configured to deliver energy to a site within a patient;

a microprocessor configured to;

control transmission of implant data corresponding to the condition within the patient to an external controller;

receive instructions from the external controller regarding a future operation of the implant device, wherein the instructions are based on an evaluation of the transmitted implant data; and

control the transducer,

wherein the received instructions reprogram the microprocessor relating to the control of the delivery of the energy.

30. The implant device of claim 29, wherein the transducer is selected from the group consisting of an ultrasonic transmitter, a heater, an electromagnetic transmitter, an electrode, and an electroporous membrane.

31. The implant device of claim 29, wherein the transducer is selected from the group consisting of an infrared emitting diode, a radio frequency emitter, and a piezoelectric element.

32. The implant device of claim 29, wherein the transducer is a first energy propagating transducer and the device further comprises a second energy propagating transducer.

33. The implant device of claim 32, further comprising:

a communications system operably connected to the microprocessor having both transmit and receive capabilities; and

a measurement transducer operably connected to the microprocessor.

34. The implant device of claim 33, further comprising a frame that mechanically supports the microprocessor, the communications system, the measurement transducer, and the first and second energy propagating transducers.

35. The implant device of claim 34, wherein the measurement transducer is selected from the group consisting of a chemical sensor, a temperature sensor, a position sensor, a strain gauge, an accelerometer, or a combination thereof.

36. The implant device of claim 34, wherein the measurement transducer is selected from the group consisting of a strain gauge, a pressure sensor, a volume sensor, a variable resistance sensor, or a combination thereof.

37. The implant device of claim 35, wherein the instructions are automatically prepared by a processor.

38. A method for operating an implanted device wherein the device comprises a microprocessor, an energy propagating transducer, a measurement transducer, a treatment transducer, and a drug reservoir, wherein the microprocessor controls the energy propagating transducer and the treatment transducer, wherein the treatment transducer controls delivery of a drug in the drug reservoir, the method comprising:

delivering, by the energy propagating transducer, energy to a site within a patient;

controlling, by the microprocessor, transmission of implant data from the measurement transducer corresponding to the condition within the patient to an external controller;

receiving instructions from the external controller regarding a future operation of the device, wherein the instructions are based on an evaluation of the transmitted implant data;

controlling the treatment transducer, the measurement transducer, and the energy propagating transducer in accord with the received instructions; and

wherein the received instructions reprogram the microprocessor relating to the control of the delivery of the drug by the treatment transducer and delivery of the energy by the energy propagating transducer.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the instructions are prepared automatically.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the transmission of the implant data comprises transmission to an ambulatory patient communications hub and the patient communications hub exchanges information with the external controller.