Post-operative pain inhibitor for joint replacement and method thereof

• US 8,099,168 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2009
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Martin William Roche
• Original Assignee: Martin William Roche
• Inventors: Roche, Martin William
• Primary Examiner(s): Manuel, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): WIELAND, ROBERT N
• Application Number:
  US12/604,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20100100154A1
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 607/46, 607/18, 607/41, 607/39, 607/42, 607/11, 607/45, 607/115, 607/2, 607/62, 607/48
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/32 for the hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3603 implanted without ablation of the whole natural femoral head endoprosthetic cartilage A61F2/30756
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/38 for elbows or knees
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3859 Femoral components
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/40 for shoulders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/42 for wrists or ankles; for hands, e.g. fingers; for feet, e.g. toes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4657 Measuring instruments used for implanting artificial joints for surgical instruments A61B90/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4684 Trial or dummy prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3067 for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4658 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4666 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4668 for measuring angles
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4672 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0002 for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0502 : Skin piercing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 : with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 : for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3603 : Control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 : Pain

Abstract

A post-operative pain inhibitor system (100) comprises a controller (32) and leads (25, 27). Neuro-stimulator circuitry may be included within the patient controller 32 or within one or more prosthetic components (12, 13, 14) for generating a signal. The topical leads (27), percutaneous leads (25), subcutaneous leads (26), intraosseous leads (22) or leads placed on or within prosthetic components are coupled to neuro-stimulation circuitry (44) to stimulate peripheral nerve fibers such that the signal blocks body generated action potentials. Controller (32) can modify the pulse width, pulse shape, pulse repetition rate, and pulse amplitude of the signal thereby allowing the patient to adapt the signal to minimize their perceived pain.

Claims

1. A post-operative pain inhibitor system for post-operative treatment of a surgically implanted joint comprising:

a first lead, where the first lead is configured to be attached to skin above the implanted joint;

a second lead, where the second lead is configured to be attached to skin below the implanted joint; and

a controller operatively coupled to the first lead and the second lead, where the controller is configured to inject a current through at least one of the first or second leads, and where the controller is configured to be controlled by a patient.

2. The system of claim 1, where at least one of the first or second leads is configured to injects a current to stimulate A-fibers of the peripheral nerve.

3. The system of claim 2, where the controller is configured to modify at least one of a signal frequency and a signal amplitude.

4. The system of claim 3, where at least one of the first or second leads is configured to carry a signal, where the signal is a pulse and where the controller is configured to modify at least one of the pulse width, pulse shape, pulse repetition rate, and pulse amplitude under patient control.

5. The system of claim 4, where at least one of the first and second leads is a bi-polar electrode and where the bi-polar electrode is configured to be coupled to the peripheral nerve fibers.

6. The system of claim 3, where at least one of the first and second leads is a tri-polar electrode, where the tri-polar electrode has a first anode, a second anode, and a cathode, where the cathode couples to the peripheral nerve fiber between the first and second anodes, and where each of the first and second anodes provides a current.

7. The system of claim 6, where the controller is configured to modify each current provided by the first and second anodes of the tri-polar electrode.

8. The system of claim 1, where at least one of the first and second leads is configured to be attached topically in proximity to an operative field.

9. The system of claim 1, where at least one of the first and second leads is attached to a third lead, where the third lead is configured to be placed in a subcutaneous or subfacial plane in proximity to an operative field.

10. The system of claim 1, where at least one of the first and second leads is attached to a third lead, where the third lead is configured to be placed percutaneously in proximity to an operative field.

11. The system of claim 1, where at least one of the first and second leads is attached to a third lead, where the third lead is configured to be placed intraosseously in proximity to an operative field.

12. The system of claim 1, where at least one of the first and second leads is attached to a third lead, where the third lead is configured to be coupled to the peripheral nerve fibers in proximity to an operative field.

13. The system of claim 1, further including one or more sensors coupled to the controller, where the one or more sensors are configured to monitor or effect at least one of temperature, perspiration, inflammatory markers, electromyogram signals, and swelling.

14. A joint implant configured to block propagation of body generated action potentials related to pain comprising:

a prosthetic component, where the prosthetic component includes a lead, where;

the lead is configured to carry an energy pulse.

15. The implant of claim 14, further including a controller coupled to the first lead, where the controller provides a signal corresponding to the energy pulse and where the controller can modify at least one of the pulse width, pulse repetition rate, or pulse amplitude of the energy pulse under patient control.

16. The implant of claim 15, where the prosthetic component further includes:

a transmitter/receiver configured to be coupled to the controller and the lead; and

a power source configured to be coupled to the transmitter/receiver.

17. The implant of claim 16, further including a second lead coupled to the controller.

18. The implant of claim 15, further including:

a femoral prosthetic component as the prosthetic component configured to be coupled to a distal end of a femur;

a tibial prosthetic component configured be coupled to a proximal end of a tibia; and

an insert configured to be coupled between the femoral prosthetic component and the tibial prosthetic component where at least one of the femoral prosthetic component, tibial prosthetic component, or insert includes a second lead.

19. The implant of claim 15, further including:

a femoral prosthetic component as the prosthetic component configured to be coupled to a proximal end of a femur;

an acetabular prosthetic component configured to be coupled to an acetabulum of a pelvis.

20. A knee implant to block propagation of body generated action potentials related to pain comprising:

a femoral prosthetic cornponent having at least one condyle surface;

an insert having a first major surface that is configured to be coupled to the at least one condyle surface; and

a tibial prosthetic component having a major surface that is configured to be coupled to a second major surface of the insert where at least one the femoral prosthetic component, insert, or tibial prosthetic component includes at least one lead.

21. The knee implant of claim 20, further including:

a transmitter/receiver configured to be coupled to the at least one lead; and

a power source configured to be coupled to the transmitter/receiver and the at least one lead.

22. The knee implant of claim 21 further including a controller configured to be coupled to the at least one lead where the controller is configured to provide a pulse and where the controller is configured to modify at least one of the pulse width, pulse repetition rate, pulse shape, and pulse amplitude of the current under patient control.

23. The knee implant of claim 22, further including a second lead coupled to the controller.

24. The knee implant of claim 23, where the second lead is configured to be attached topically in proximity to an operative field.

25. The knee implant of claim 23, where the second lead is configured to be placed in a subcutaneous or subfacial plane in proximity to an operative field.