Method and apparatus for stimulating the healing of medical implants
First Claim
1. A method for enhancing the stability of a medical implant surgically inserted into bone by stimulating bone growth at the interface between the implant and surrounding bone comprising the steps of:
- attaching a permanent magnet to the implant and exposing the magnet to an externally applied time varying magnetic field having sufficient field strength to cause the implant to vibrate with micromotion.
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Abstract
A technique to enhance the stability of dental and orthopedic implants (including artificial joints and fractures) by inducing implant micromotion via a permanent magnet coupled to the implant which is vibrated using a cyclic magnetic force to enhance growth and apposition of the surrounding bone. In the preferred embodiment the implant temporarily holds a rigidly fixed, permanent magnet that is oscillated by an externally applied, time varying moving magnetic field of controlled frequency and intensity. Movement of the internal magnet transmits movement to the implant and effects stimulation of the implant-bone interface.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for enhancing the stability of a medical implant surgically inserted into bone by stimulating bone growth at the interface between the implant and surrounding bone comprising the steps of:
- attaching a permanent magnet to the implant and exposing the magnet to an externally applied time varying magnetic field having sufficient field strength to cause the implant to vibrate with micromotion.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for enhancing the stability of a medical implant surgically inserted into bone by stimulating bone growth at the interface between the embedded implant and surrounding bone comprising the steps of:
- generating a magnetic field external to the embedded implant in relative close proximity thereto with the magnetic field being of sufficient field strength and of a given frequency to induce current flow through the implant, maintaining the magnetic field in such close proximity to the implant for a fixed time period of at least 1 minute and periodically repeating the procedure.
- View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method for enhancing the therapeutic benefit of a medical implant surgically inserted into a human comprising the step of securing a permanent magnet to the implant.
- 16. Medical implant apparatus comprising in combination, a metal body having a cavity, a removable screw for engaging said cavity in said metal body and a permanent magnet adapted to be affixed to said removable screw.
- 21. Medical implant apparatus comprising in combination, a metal body of a conductive material adapted to be surgically inserted into bone and means for inducing current flow through said metal body after it is surgically implanted.
- 26. Apparatus for therapeutically treating tissue in a human body comprising a permanent magnet to generate a time varying magnetic field with the permanent magnet being located in close proximity to the tissue to be treated.
Specification