Adjustable, remote-controllable orthopaedic prosthesis and associated method

• US 7,559,951 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2005
• Issued: 07/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Depuy Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: DiSilvestro, Mark R., Hastings, Robert, Dietz, Terry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Snow; Bruce E
• Assistant Examiner(s): WOLF, MEGAN YARNALL
• Application Number:
  US11/154,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20060069447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,489 Days
• Field of Search: 623 224- 2317, 623 2344- 2347, 623/16.11, 623/18.12, 606 61- 63, 606/64, 606/68, 606/90, 606/105
• US Class Current: 623/23.47
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30744 End caps, e.g. for closing an endoprosthetic cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/36 Femoral heads ; Femoral endoprostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3662 Femoral shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/367 Proximal or metaphyseal parts of shafts trochanteric devices connected to said proximal parts A61F2/30739
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3676 Distal or diaphyseal parts of shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/38 for elbows or knees
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/389 Tibial components A61F2/3868 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/482 Electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30153 rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30235 tubular, e.g. sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30332 Conically- or frustoconically-shaped protrusion and recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30352 Protrusion and recess of D-shaped cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30355 Cylinder of elliptical or oval basis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30367 with additional means for preventing said rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30372 with additional means for limiting said translation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30403 Longitudinally-oriented cooperating ribs and grooves on mating lateral surfaces of a mainly longitudinal connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30405 made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30476 locked by an additional locking mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30522 releasable, e.g. using a releasable ratchet
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30523 by means of meshing gear teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30538 : for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3055 : for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30553 : for adjusting a position by translation along an axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30555 : along two perpendicular axes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30589 : Sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 : hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30601 : telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 : modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30616 : Sets comprising a plurality of prosthetic parts of different sizes or orientations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30668 : Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• 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 2002/30706 : specially designed for children, e.g. having means for adjusting to their growth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3079 : Stepped or enlarged apertures, e.g. having discrete diameter changes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3625 : Necks
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3647 : pierced with a longitudinal bore
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/365 : Connections of heads to necks
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3652 : Connections of necks to shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3674 : Connections of proximal parts to distal parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/368 : with lateral apertures, bores, holes or openings, e.g. for reducing the mass, for receiving fixation screws or for communicating with the inside of a hollow shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4631 : the prosthesis being specially adapted for being cemented
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4696 : optical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0033 : made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0019 : rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0001 : Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0002 : for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0006 : for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0008 : for adjusting a position by translation along an axis or two perpendicular axes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0082 : specially designed for children, e.g. having means for adjusting to their growth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00017 : Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 : Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00029 : Cobalt-based alloys, e.g. Co-Cr alloys or Vitallium
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00179 : Ceramics or ceramic-like structures

Abstract

An implantable, adjustable prosthesis includes a first component which may be moved relative to a second component by use of a transcutaneous control signal. A method of operating such a prosthesis is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An orthopaedic implant comprising:

an implantable adjustable prosthesis comprising;

a first component,

a second component telescopically coupled to the first component,

a third component telescopically coupled to the second component,

a first drive assembly coupled to the first and second components and configured to move the second component relative to the first component along a first axis,

a second drive assembly coupled to the second and third components and configured to move the third component relative to the second component along a second axis, the second axis being different than the first axis, and

a power source secured to at least one of the first component, the second component, or the third component, wherein (i) the power source is electrically coupled to both the first drive assembly and the second drive assembly, (ii) the first component comprises an elongated bore along a first axis to receive a portion of the second component, and (iii) the first drive assembly is to selectively extend and retract in a telescopic manner the portion of the second component from and into the elongated bore of the first component along the first axis.

2. The orthopaedic implant of claim 1, wherein the implantable adjustable prosthesis further comprises a controller secured to at least one of the first component, the second component, or the third component, wherein the controller is configured to control operation of both the first drive assembly and the second drive assembly.

3. The orthopaedic implant of claim 2, wherein the controller comprises an antenna configured to receive signals from outside the body of the patient subsequent to the prosthesis being implanted in the body of a patient.

4. The orthopaedic implant of claim 1, wherein the first component is a stem assembly, the second component is a body assembly, and the third component is a neck.

5. The orthopaedic implant of claim 4, wherein the first axis is defined along a length of the stem assembly and the second axis is defined along a length of the neck.

6. The orthopaedic implant of claim 4, wherein the stem assembly includes a stem having a bore formed therein and a portion of the body assembly is received within the bore of the stem assembly.

7. The orthopaedic implant of claim 4, wherein the body assembly includes a bore formed therein and a portion of the neck is received within the bore of the body assembly.

8. The orthopaedic implant of claim 1, wherein the first drive assembly includes a first motor and a first threaded drive shaft coupled to the first motor for rotational movement with an output shaft of the motor.

9. The orthopaedic implant of claim 8, wherein the second drive assembly includes a second motor and a second threaded drive shaft coupled to the second motor for rotational movement with an output shaft of the second motor.

10. The orthopaedic implant of claim 8, further including a first gear reducer coupled to the first motor and the first threaded drive shaft.

11. The orthopaedic implant of claim 1, wherein the first drive assembly includes a first linear actuator and the second drive assembly includes a second linear actuator.

12. The orthopaedic implant of claim 11, wherein the first linear actuator includes a first piezoelectric motor and the second linear actuator includes a second piezoelectric motor.

13. The orthopaedic implant of claim 1, wherein the implantable adjustable prosthesis further comprises a first ratchet coupled to the first component and the second component and a second ratchet coupled to the second component and the third component.

14. The orthopaedic implant of claim 1, wherein a portion of the implantable adjustable prosthesis is made of a polymer to permit transmission of an RF signal to and from the prosthesis.

15. The orthopaedic implant of claim 1, wherein the implantable adjustable prosthesis further comprising a position sensor configured to sense the position of at least one of the first component, the second component, and the third component.

20. The orthopaedic system of claim 1, wherein

the second component comprises an elongated bore along the second axis to receive a portion of the third component, and

the second drive assembly is to selectively extend and retract in a telescopic manner the portion of the third component from and into the elongated bore of the second component.

16. An orthopaedic system comprising:

an implantable hip prosthesis comprising (i) a first drive assembly operable to adjust the length of the prosthesis, (ii) a second drive assembly operable to adjust the offset of the prosthesis, (iii) an electronic controller secured to the implantable hip prosthesis and configured to control operation of both the first drive assembly and the second drive assembly.

17. The orthopaedic system of claim 16, wherein the electronic controller comprises an antenna configured to receive signals from outside the body of the patient subsequent to the hip prosthesis being implanted in the body of a patient.

18. The orthopaedic system of claim 16, wherein the implantable hip prosthesis further comprises a power source electrically coupled to both the first drive assembly and the second drive assembly.

19. The orthopaedic system of claim 16, further comprising an external transmitter, wherein the external transmitter is configured to transmit signals from outside the body to the electronic controller subsequent to the hip prosthesis being implanted in the body of the patient.