DEVICE FOR PROCESSING AND TRANSMITTING MEASURED SIGNALS FOR MONITORING AND/OR CONTROLLING MEDICAL IMPLANTS, DIAGNOSTIC DEVICES OR BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES

• US 20180310824A1
• Filed: 07/05/2018
• Published: 11/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AO Technology AG
• Original Assignee: AO Technology AG
• Inventors: Windolf, Markus
• Granted Patent: US 10,441,171 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4504 Bones A61B5/4547 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/60 for the operation of medical equipment or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A device (1) for processing and transmitting measured signals which correspond to implant parameters or biological parameters for monitoring and/or controlling medical implants, diagnostic devices or biological processes including: a biocompatible sterilizable covering (9); an electronic signal processing device (2) electrically connectable to at least one sensor (5) for processing measured signals received from the at least one sensor; a data memory (16) electrically connected to said signal processing device for storing data received from said signal processing device; and a data transmission device (4) electrically connected to said data memory for transmitting data received from said data memory to a remote data receiving device (6) which is connectable to an external data processing device (8). The signal processing device calculates statistically relevant data obtained from the measured signals, reducing the volume of stored data. Methods for monitoring or controlling bone healing or bone distraction implants are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring and/or controlling bone healing in osteosynthesis and for processing and transmitting measured signals which correspond to implant parameters, the system comprising:

a bone plate or an intramedullary nail;

at least one sensor configured to measure strain in the bone plate or intramedullary nail;

an electronic signal processing device arranged in a biocompatible sterilizable covering and electrically connected to the at least one sensor, said electronic signal processing device being configured to process measured strain signals received from said at least one sensor;

a data memory arranged in said covering and electrically connected to said signal processing device, said data memory being configured to store data received from said signal processing device; and

a data transmission device arranged in said covering and electrically connected to said data memory, said data transmission device being configured to transmit data stored in said data memory to a remote data receiving device which is connectable to an external data processing device;

wherein the electronic signal processing device comprises an electronic data processing unit,

wherein said electronic data processing unit comprises

a counter unit configured to supply a count of processed signal samples to the data memory, and

an integrator, and

wherein said signal processing device is programmed to calculate statistically relevant data obtained from said measured strain signals and thereby reduce a volume of said data stored in the data memory.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said electronic data processing unit is programmable.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said data transmission device is a transceiver configured to transmit data to and to receive data from at least one external device.

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply arranged in said covering.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said electronic data processing unit comprises a minimum/maximum unit configured to identify extreme values in a curve of measured signals.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said data transmission device includes a radio frequency based transmission means.

7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a multi-channel multiplexer arranged in said covering.

8. A method for monitoring and/or controlling bone healing in osteosynthesis, the method comprising:

implanting a system according to claim 1 in a patient;

allowing the signal processing device of the system to calculate statistically relevant data obtained from measured strain signals and to store said statistically relevant data in the data memory;

transmitting the statistically relevant data stored in data memory to an external data processing device; and

monitoring and/or controlling bone healing in the patient on the basis of the statistically relevant data transmitted to the external processing device.