Orthopaedic implant with sensors

• US 8,551,092 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2011
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2004
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Morgan, Chad, Hall, Harry T. IV, Green, James M., Flexner, Geoffrey, Gelts, Charles E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong, Kevin T
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARAJ, MICHAEL J
• Application Number:
  US13/298,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20120065548A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 606/53, 606/60, 606280-282
• US Class Current: 606/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/60 for external osteosynthesis, e.g. distractors, contractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/64 Devices extending alongside the bones to be positioned
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/663 for jaw bones, e.g. subcutaneous distractors with external access periodontal bone regeneration A61C8/0006
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/68 Internal fixation devices , including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin bone staples A61B17/0642
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/70 Spinal positioners or stabilisers ; Bone stabilisers comprising fluid filler in an implant
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7001 Screws or hooks combined with longitudinal elements which do not contact vertebrae A61B17/7058 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7037 wherein pivoting is blocked when the rod is clamped
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/72 Intramedullary pins, nails or other devices A61B17/744 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7225 for bone compression
• 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 17/86 Pins or screws or threaded wires; nuts therefor A61B17/72 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• 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 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4504 Bones A61B5/4547 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 : combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/06 : Measuring instruments not otherwise provided for
• 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 2002/2821 : Bone stimulation by electromagnetic fields or electric current for enhancing ossification
• 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 2002/4666 : for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4672 : for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0002 : for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/0097 : Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/205 : for promoting a biological process

Abstract

A monitoring system includes: (1) an implant having at least one sensor and configured for at least partial insertion into a patient, a first one of sensors being in contact with a perimeter of a hole in a body portion of the implant for accepting a fastener; (2) a microchip associated with the implant and the sensor, the microchip configured to receive at least a first signal from the sensor; (3) a transmitter associated with the microchip for transmitting a second signal, representative of the first signal; (4) a receiver located outside of the patient, the receiver configured receive the transmitted second signal; and (5) a display device associated with the receiver, the display device configured to provide an audible or visual representation of the second signal to a user.

Claims

1. A method of mending a broken bone, comprising:

affixing a bone fixation implant to first and second portions of the broken bone using a plurality of fasteners, the implant including a microchip and a plurality of sensors arranged on the implant and connected to the microchip, a first one of the sensors being in contact with a perimeter of a hole in a body portion of the implant for accepting a fastener;

collecting data from the sensors by the microchip; and

transmitting the data from the microchip to an external receiving device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sensors is a thermocouple.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sensors is a pressure transducer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sensors is a strain gauge.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sensors is a digital imaging element.

6. A monitoring system comprising:

an implant having at least one sensor and configured for at least partial insertion into a patient, a first one of sensors being in contact with a perimeter of a hole in a body portion of the implant for accepting a fastener;

a microchip associated with the implant and the sensor, the microchip configured to receive at least a first signal from the sensor;

a transmitter associated with the microchip for transmitting a second signal, representative of the first signal;

a receiver located outside of the patient, the receiver configured receive the transmitted second signal; and

a display device associated with the receiver, the display device configured to provide an audible or visual representation of the second signal to a user.

7. The monitoring system of claim 6, wherein the microchip further comprises a data logger.

8. The monitoring system of claim 6, wherein the display device is further configured to continuously record the transmitted second signal.

9. The monitoring system of claim 6, wherein the implant is a bone plate.

10. The monitoring system of claim 6, wherein the at least one sensor is configured and adapted to receive a strain from at least a portion of the implant.

11. The monitoring system of claim 6 wherein the at least one sensor is configured and adapted to receive a pressure applied to at least a portion of the implant.

12. The monitoring system of claim 6 wherein the at least one sensor is configured and adapted to receive a temperature of at least a portion of the implant.

13. The monitoring system of claim 6, wherein the implant further comprises a compartment for holding a therapeutic agent for release in response to a signal received by the microchip.