Photocatalytic implant having a sensor

• US 8,267,883 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2010
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Spine Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Spine Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: DiMauro, Thomas M., Sutton, Jeffrey K., Attawia, Mohamed, Serhan, Hassan, Malone, John Daniel, Beardsley, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephens, Jacqueline F.
• Application Number:
  US12/817,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20100317948A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 604/8, 604/20, 604/501, 604/174, 604/180, 604/96.01, 604/890.1, 422/139, 422/122, 424/423
• US Class Current: 604/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/866 Material or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30767 Special external or bone-contacting surface, e.g. coating for improving bone ingrowth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3094 Designing or manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/34 Acetabular cups
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/36 Femoral heads ; Femoral endoprostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3662 Femoral shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/38 for elbows or knees
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4455 for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages intervertebral discs A61F2/442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30663 multiaxial, e.g. biaxial; multipolar, e.g. bipolar or having an intermediate shell articulating between the ball and the socket
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30929 having at least two superposed coatings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3611 Heads or epiphyseal parts of femur
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3625 Necks
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/443 having two transversal endplates and at least one intermediate component
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00604 Coating made of aluminium oxide or hydroxides
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/0061 Coating made of silicon oxide or hydroxides
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00616 Coating made of titanium oxide or hydroxides
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/06 Titanium or titanium alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/427 of other specific inorganic materials not covered by A61L27/422 or A61L27/425
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/56 Porous materials, e.g. foams or sponges
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/022 : Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/124 : of other specific inorganic materials not covered by A61L31/122 or A61L31/123
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/146 : Porous materials, e.g. foams or sponges
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/158 : Needles for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0651 : Diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0661 : ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 : Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0624 : for eliminating microbes, germs, bacteria on or in the body
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 35/39 : Photocatalytic properties

Abstract

An implant comprises a photocatalytic layer on at least one surface and is adapted to act as a sensor. In some embodiments, the photocatalytic layer is a semiconductor oxide that is doped. According to some embodiments, the implant comprises a wave guide. According to some embodiments the implant comprises a light port. According to some embodiments, the implant comprises a reflective material on a surface of the waveguide. According to some embodiments the implant comprises a composite material comprising a first material that has a transmissivity when exposed to a predetermined wavelength of light and a second material that has photocatalytic activity when exposed to the predetermined wavelength of light. According to some embodiments the implant comprises a light source adapted to irradiate the photocatalytic surface.

Claims

1. A medical implant comprising:

a) photocatalytic surface, and

b) a light source adapted to irradiate the photocatalytic surface with light in an amount sufficient to activate photocatalysis thereon,

wherein the implant is adapted to act as a sensor.

2. The implant of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises the photocatalytic surface.

3. The implant of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises the light source.

4. The implant of claim 3 wherein the sensor comprises a detection system.