Instrumented orthopedic and other medical implants

• US 8,491,572 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2006
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IZEX Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IZEX Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Martinson, James B., Stark, John G., Hanson, Timothy J. B., Backes, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hall, Deanna K
• Application Number:
  US11/494,719
• Publication Number:
  US 20060271112A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,553 Days
• Field of Search: 600/587, 600/325, 600/377, 600/300, 607/48, 607/51, 607/57, 607/60, 623/24, 128/903, 604/891.1, 604/890.1, 604/502, 604/93.01, 604/288.01
• US Class Current: 604/891.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/80 Cortical plates , i.e. bone plates; Instruments for holding or positioning cortical plates, or for compressing bones attached to cortical plates
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/03 Detecting, measuring or recording fluid pressure within the body other than blood pressure, e.g. cerebral pressure; Measuring pressure in body tissues or organs A61B5/205 takes precedence
• 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 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4236 characterised by adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/08 Muscles; Tendons; Ligaments sutures A61B17/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/28 Bones joints A61F2/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30 Joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/32 for the hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/38 for elbows or knees
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/40 for shoulders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4202 for ankles
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4241 for hands, e.g. fingers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/442 Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient non-disc-shaped intervertebral inflatable pockets A61F2/441; non-disc-shaped intervertebral fusion implants A61F2/4455
• 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 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30133 kidney-shaped or bean-shaped
• 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 2002/3068 : the pharmaceutical product being in a reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30754 : Implants for interposition between two natural articular surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30878 : with non-sharp protrusions, for instance contacting the bone for anchoring, e.g. keels, pegs, pins, posts, shanks, stems, struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30953 : using a remote computer network, e.g. Internet
• 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 2002/4672 : for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0093 : programmed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0015 : Kidney-shaped, e.g. bean-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0002 : for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0068 : the pharmaceutical product being in a reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/12 : Devices for heating or cooling internal body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 : electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/30 : Apparatus for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body, or cataphoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/326 : for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 : characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 : Aspects of the external programmer
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37282 : characterised by communication with experts in remote locations using a network
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 : using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0659 : infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/00 : Radiation therapy ultrasound therapy A61N7/00; devices or apparatus applicable to both therapy and diagnosis A61B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 : Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 : Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092

Abstract

Medical implants can comprise various instrumentation to impart desirable functionality to the implant. In some embodiments, the implants comprise functional structures, such as sensors, energy propagating transducers, drug delivery systems and the like. Additional instrumentation to facilitate the functionality of these devices can include, for example, microprocessors, communication systems, power sources or the like. Drug delivery systems can comprise, for example, an isolated reservoir with a control system to control the delivery of a biological agent from the reservoir. The implants can be orthopedic implants that are designed to interface with a patient'"'"'s skeletal system wherein the orthopedic implant may itself embody sensors, processors, power supplies, memory and/or communication capability.

Claims

1. A method for operating an implanted medical device wherein the medical device comprises a microprocessor, a transducer and a drug reservoir and wherein the microprocessor controls a transducer associated with drug delivery from the implanted medical device such that the delivery of a drug from the reservoir is controlled with the microprocessor, the method comprising

transmitting from the medical device data corresponding to a condition within the patient and receiving instructions into the medical device regarding the future operation of the medical device,

wherein the implanted medical device communicates with a central server that comprises a database,

wherein the instructions from the central server to the implanted medical device are based on an evaluation of the data transmitted from the implanted device relating to a condition within the patient, and

wherein the instructions reprogram the microprocessor relating to control of the delivery of the drug.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the medical device further comprises

a communications system operably connected to the microprocessor having both transmitting and receiving capability,

a measurement transducer operably connected to the microprocessor,

a treatment transducer operably connected to the microprocessor, and

a drug delivery device comprising either a cover or a pump wherein the treatment transducer is operably connected with the cover or pump to control delivery from the reservoir.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the medical device further comprises a frame that supports the microprocessor, the communications system, the measurement transducer and the treatment transducer.

4. The method of claim 2 comprising a plurality of frames with each frame corresponding to an implant component with wired or wireless communication between the implant components.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the measurement transducer is selected from the group consisting of a chemical sensor, a temperature sensor, a position sensor, a strain gauge, an accelerometer, or a combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the treatment transducer comprises an energy propagating transducer.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the measurement transducer comprises a strain gauge, a pressure sensor, a volume sensor, a variable resistance sensor or a combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the data is transmitted over the internet.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the instructions are prepared by a processor automatically.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmission of medical device data comprises transmission to a patient communications hub and the patient communications hub exchanges information with the central server.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the patient communications hub comprises a patient output channel.

12. The method of claim 2 wherein the cover comprises an electrically responsive material.

13. The method of claim 2 wherein the treatment transducer comprises a MEMS device.