In-vivo orthopedic implant diagnostic device for sensing load, wear, and infection

• US 7,097,662 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2004
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: University of Tennessee Research Foundation (University of Tennessee), UT-Battelle LLC
• Original Assignee: University of Tennessee Research Foundation (University of Tennessee), UT-Battelle LLC
• Inventors: Thundat, Thomas G., Komistek, Richard D., Mahfouz, Mohamed, Dennis, Douglas A., Evans, Boyd McCutchen III
• Primary Examiner(s): Stewart, Alvin J.
• Application Number:
  US10/926,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20060047283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 623/18.11, 623/17.13, 623/912, 623/914, 623/20.21, 623/20.14, 623/20.32, 623/22.11
• US Class Current: 623/18.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• 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 5/1076 for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters A61B3/1005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/412 Detecting or monitoring sepsis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4523 Tendons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6846 specially adapted to be brought in contact with an internal body part, i.e. invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/32 for the hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/38 for elbows or knees
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3877 Patellae or trochleae
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/40 for shoulders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4657 Measuring instruments used for implanting artificial joints for surgical instruments A61B90/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/488 Means for detecting or monitoring wear
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4672 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/914 Bone

Abstract

A device for providing in vivo diagnostics of loads, wear, and infection in orthopedic implants having at least one load sensor associated with the implant, at least one temperature sensor associated with the implant, at least one vibration sensor associated with the implant, and at least one signal processing device operatively coupled with the sensors. The signal processing device is operable to receive the output signal from the sensors and transmit a signal corresponding with the output signal.

Claims

1. A device for providing in vivo diagnostics of loads, wear, and infection in orthopedic implants, said device comprising:

at least one load sensor associated with said implant, said at least one load sensor for generating an output signal in response to and indicative of normal and transverse loads being applied to said implant; and

at least one temperature sensor associated with said implant, said at least one temperature sensor for generating an output signal in response to and indicative of a temperature proximate said implant; and

at least one vibration sensor associated with said implant, said at least one vibration sensor for generating an output signal in response to and indicative of a vibration proximate said implant; and

at least one signal processing device operatively coupled with said at least one load, temperature, and vibration sensor, said at least one signal processing device being operable to receive said output signal from said at least one load, temperature, and vibration sensor and to transmit a signal corresponding with said output signal.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one load, temperature, and vibration sensor further comprises a microelectromechanical system.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said microelectromechanical system further comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of piezoelectric material, double supported microbeam, piezoresistive coating, piezoelectric coating, and parallel plate capacitor.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said device is powered by a power supply comprising at least one device selected from the group consisting of piezoelectric elements, piezoelectric stacks, electromagnetic induction, radio frequency induction and rechargeable batteries.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one load, temperature, and vibration sensor further comprises at least one encapsulant selected from the group consisting of polymer and elastomeric material.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said encapsulant further comprises a convex surface and a concave surface.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said device is disposed in at least one component selected from the group consisting of tibia, fibia, femora, patella, acetabula, scapula, humera, talus, and intervertebral space.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said signal processing device further comprises at least one transmission device selected from the group consisting of wireless telemetry and percutaneous wiring.

9. A device for providing in vivo diagnostics of loads, wear, and infection in orthopedic implants, said device comprising:

at least one load sensor associated with said implant, said at least one load sensor for generating an output signal in response to and indicative of a normal and transverse loads being applied to said implant;

at least one temperature sensor associated with said implant, said at least one temperature sensor for generating an output signal in response to and indicative of a temperature proximate said implant;

at least one vibration sensor associated with said implant, said at least one vibration sensor for generating an output signal in response to and indicative of a vibration proximate said implant;

at least one ultrasonic device associated with said implant, said at least one ultrasonic device for generating an output signal in response to and indicative of wear being imposed on said implant; and

at least one signal processing device operatively coupled with said at least one load sensor, temperature sensor, vibration sensor, and ultrasonic device, said at least one signal processing device being operable to receive said output signal from said at least one load sensor, temperature sensor, vibration sensor, and ultrasonic device and to transmit a signal corresponding with said output signal.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said at least one load sensor, temperature sensor, vibration sensor, and ultrasonic device further comprises a microelectromechanical system.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said microelectromechanical system further comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of piezoelectric material, double supported microbeam, piezoresistive coating, piezoelectric coating, and parallel plate capacitor.

12. The device of claim 9 wherein said device is powered by a power supply comprising at least one device selected from the group consisting of piezoelectric elements, piezoelectric stacks, electromagnetic induction, radio frequency induction and rechargeable batteries.

13. The device of claim 9 wherein said at least one load sensor, temperature sensor, vibration sensor, and ultrasonic device further comprises at least one encapsulant selected from the group consisting of polymer and elastomeric material.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein said encapsulant further comprises a convex surface and a concave surface.

15. The device of claim 9 wherein said device is disposed in at least one component selected from the group consisting of tibia, fibia, femora, patella, acetabula, scapula, humera, talus, and intervertebral space.

16. The device of claim 9 wherein said signal processing device further comprises at least one transmission device selected from the group consisting of wireless telemetry and percutaneous wiring.

17. A device for providing in vivo diagnostics of loads, wear, and infection in orthopedic implants, said device comprising:

at least one load sensor associated with said implant, said at least one load sensor for generating an output signal in response to and indicative of a normal and transverse loads being applied to said implant; and

at least one temperature sensor associated with said implant, said at least one temperature sensor for generating an output signal in response to and indicative of a temperature proximate said implant;

at least one vibration sensor associated with said implant, said at least one vibration sensor for generating an output signal in response to and indicative of a vibration proximate said implant; and

at least one ultrasonic device associated with said implant, said at least one ultrasonic device for generating an output signal in response to and indicative of wear being imposed on said implant;

at least one chemical sensor associated with said implant, said at least one chemical sensor for generating an output signal in response to and indicative of infection proximate said implant; and

at least one signal processing device operatively coupled with said at least one load sensor, temperature sensor, vibration sensor, ultrasonic device, and chemical sensor said at least one signal processing device being operable to receive said output signal from said at least one load sensor, temperature sensor, vibration sensor, ultrasonic device, and chemical sensor and to transmit a signal corresponding with said output signal.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein said at least one load sensor, temperature sensor, vibration sensor, ultrasonic device, and chemical sensor further comprises a microelectromechanical system.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein said microelectromechanical system further comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of piezoelectric material, double supported microbeam, piezoresistive coating, piezoelectric coating, parallel plate capacitor, antibody coating, and aptameric receptor coating.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein said antibody coating is specific to at least one attractant selected from the group consisting of c-reactive proteins, activated factor XII, serotonin, and epinephrine.

21. The device of claim 19 wherein said aptameric receptor coating is specific to at least one cytokine selected from the group consisting of tumor necrosis factor-•

, interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and interferon.

22. The device of claim 17 wherein said device is powered by a power supply comprising at least one device selected from the group consisting of piezoelectric elements, piezoelectric stacks, electromagnetic induction, radio frequency induction and rechargeable batteries.

23. The device of claim 17 wherein said at least one load sensor, temperature sensor, vibration sensor, ultrasonic device, and chemical sensor further comprises at least one encapsulant selected from the group consisting of polymer and elastomeric material.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein said encapsulant further comprises a convex surface and a concave surface.

25. The device of claim 17 wherein said device is disposed in at least one component selected from the group consisting of tibia, fibia, femora, patella, acetabula, scapula, humera, talus, intervertebral space, and tissue.

26. The device of claim 17 wherein said signal processing device further comprises at least one transmission device selected from the group consisting of wireless telemetry and percutaneous wiring.

27. The device of claim 17 wherein said chemical sensor further comprises at least one bacteria sensor disposed in drainage tube effluent.

28. A method for providing in vivo diagnostics of loads, wear, and infection in orthopedic implants comprising the steps of:

positioning a sensor suite proximate an orthopedic implant, said sensor suite further comprising at least one device selected from the group consisting of load sensor, temperature sensor, vibration sensor, ultrasonic device, and chemical sensor,

powering said sensor suite for collecting and transmitting data,

analyzing said data to determine loads, wear, and infection in said orthopedic implant.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said at least one load sensor, temperature sensor, vibration sensor, ultrasonic device, and chemical sensor further comprises a microelectromechanical system.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said microelectromechanical system further comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of piezoelectric material, double supported microbeam, piezoresistive coating, piezoelectric coating, parallel plate capacitor, antibody coating, and aptameric receptor coating.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein said antibody coating is specific to at least one attractant selected from the group consisting of c-reactive proteins, activated factor XII, serotonin, and epinephrine.