Bipolar Bone Anchor With Connection For Electrostimulation

• US 20190308014A1
• Filed: 04/09/2019
• Published: 10/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neue Magnetodyn GmbH
• Original Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: RENNICH, Markus, STEPHAN, Heribert
• Granted Patent: US 11,331,504 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/58 for osteosynthesis, e.g. bone plates, screws , setting implements or the like A61B17/14, A61B17/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/72 Intramedullary pins, nails or other devices A61B17/744 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8605 Heads, i.e. proximal ends projecting from bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/863 with thread interrupted or changing its form along shank, other than constant taper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8635 Tips of screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/866 Material or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8685 comprising multiple separate parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/564 Methods for bone or joint treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/205 for promoting a biological process
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/326 for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

An electrical stimulation anchor is configured to be electrically coupled to a power source, such as a transducer, that is external to the electrical stimulation anchor. The electrical stimulation anchor can include a bone anchor that is configured to be secured to a bone. The bone anchor can define a first electrode, a second electrode, and an isolating portion between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electrical stimulation anchor can further include a connection unit attached to the bone anchor. The connection unit can define a first contact member that electrically connects to the first electrode, and a second contact member electrically isolated from the first contact member. The second contact member can be electrically connected to the second electrode. The first and second contact members are configured to draw electrical current from the transducer so as to establish a voltage differential between the first and second electrodes.

Claims

1. An electrical stimulation anchor configured to be electrically coupled to a power source, the electrical stimulation anchor comprising:

a bone anchor configured to be secured to a bone, the bone anchor defining a first electrode, a second electrode, and an isolating portion between the first electrode and the second electrode; and

a connection unit attached to the bone anchor, the connection unit defining a connection unit insulator configured to electrically isolate the first electrode with respect to the second electrode when the power source is electrically connected to the first and second electrodes so as to establish a voltage differential between the first and second electrodes,

wherein the connection unit is further configured to electrically connect to a first contact of the power source having a first polarity, and a second contact of the power source having a second polarity opposite the first polarity.

2. The electrical stimulation anchor as recited in claim 1, wherein the connection unit further defines a first contact member that electrically connects to the first electrode, and a second contact member electrically isolated from the first contact member, the second contact member electrically connecting to the second electrode,

wherein the first and second contact members are configured to draw electrical current from the power source so as to establish the voltage differential between the first and second electrodes.

3. The electrical stimulation anchor as recited claim 2, wherein the connection unit insulator is disposed between the first contact member and second contact member so as to prevent the first and second contact members from contacting each other.

4. The electrical stimulation anchor as recited in claim 3, wherein the bone anchor defines a head, a tip, and a shaft that connects the head to the tip, such that the bone anchor is elongate from the head to the tip along a central anchor axis, and the connection unit is attached to the head of the bone anchor.

5. The electrical stimulation anchor as recited in claim 3, wherein the bone anchor further defines a first electrically conductive outer surface and a second electrically conductive outer surface spaced from the first electrically conductive outer surface along the central anchor axis.

6. The electrical stimulation anchor as recited in claim 5, wherein each of the first electrically conductive outer surface and the second electrically conductive outer surface define a diameter that is no more than about 5 millimeters.

7. The electrical stimulation anchor as recited in claim 5, wherein the isolating portion defines a non-conductive outer surface of the bone anchor, such that the first electrically conductive outer surface is separated from the second electrically conductive outer surface a distance along the central anchor axis substantially equal to a length of the non-conductive outer surface measured along the central anchor axis.

8. The electrical stimulation anchor as recited in claim 4, wherein the shaft comprises a shaft body that defines a cavity, and at least a portion of the second contact member is disposed within the cavity of the shaft body.

9. The electrical stimulation anchor as recited in claim 8, wherein the shaft body defines the cavity such that no electrical coil is within the bone anchor.

10. The electrical stimulation anchor as recited in claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the isolating portion is disposed within the cavity of the shaft body.

11. The electrical stimulation anchor as recited in claim 10, wherein the isolating portion defines an insulating cavity, and at least a portion of the second contact member is disposed within the insulating cavity.

12. The electrical stimulation anchor as recited in claim 11, wherein the head includes a recess, and the first contact member defines a first contact member body and a first contact member shroud that extends from the first contact member body so as to be disposed within the recess.

13. The electrical stimulation anchor as recited in claim 12, wherein the connection unit insulator defines a connection unit insulator body and an insulating arm supported by the first contact member body of the first contact member.

14. The electrical stimulation anchor as recited in claim 13, wherein the connection unit insulator defines a connection unit insulator hole sized to receive the second contact member.

15. The electrical stimulation anchor as recited in claim 14, wherein the second contact member is disposed within the connection unit insulator hole, such that the second contact member is electrically isolated from the first contact member of the connection unit.

16. The electrical stimulation anchor as recited in claim 15, wherein:

the second contact member defines a first end and a second end opposite the first end such that the second contact member is elongate from the first end to the second end, the first end of the second contact member is disposed within the hole of the connection unit insulator, and

the second end of the second contact member is disposed within the cavity of the shaft body.

17. The electrical stimulation anchor as recited claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a transducer having an electrical coil configured to be positioned in an orientation that is independent from an orientation of the bone anchor.

18. A method of treating a fracture in a bone, the method comprising:

inserting an electrical stimulation anchor in the bone such that the fracture is disposed adjacent to first and second electrodes of the electrical stimulation anchor;

electrically connecting the first and second electrodes to a transducer that is external to the electrical stimulation anchor;

placing the transducer in soft tissue adjacent to the bone; and

causing an electric field to be generated between the first and second electrodes.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein causing the electric field to be generated comprises:

exposing the transducer to a magnetic field so as to generate an electrical current between the transducer and the first and second electrodes.

20. A connection unit configured to attach to a bone screw, the connection unit comprising:

a first contact member configured to connect a first electrode of the bone screw with a first electrical conductor of a transducer external to the bone screw;

a second contact member configured to connect a second electrode of the bone screw with a second electrical conductor of the transducer; and

a connection unit insulator disposed between the first contact member and the second contact member, so as to electrically isolate the first contact member and the second contact member from each other.