Post-operative pain inhibitor for hip joint replacement and method thereof

• US 8,594,796 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2011
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• 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): Wieland, Robert N
• Application Number:
  US13/310,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20120095526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 607/46, 607/11, 607/18, 607/2, 607/115, 607/39, 607/41, 607/42, 607/45, 607/62
• 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 comprises a controller and leads. Neuro-stimulator circuitry may be included within the patient controller or within one or more prosthetic components for generating a signal. In one example, a hip implant includes a prosthetic component having at least one electrode where the at least one electrode is configured to deliver energy pulses. Topical leads, percutaneous leads, subcutaneous leads, intraosseous leads, or leads can be placed in proximity to the operative field corresponding to the prosthetic component installation. The lead or electrodes can be coupled to neuro-stimulation circuitry to stimulate peripheral nerve fibers to affect body generated action potentials. A transmitter or power source can be housed in a prosthetic hip component. Controller 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 configured for post-operative treatment of an implant comprising:

an implant component having an electrode where the electrode is configured to deliver energy pulses, where the energy pulses are either emitted from or received by the electrode and where emitted energy pulses from the electrode are configured to stimulate peripheral nerve fibers to block or inhibit a pain signal.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 where the implant component is a prosthetic hip component and further comprises at least one of a femoral implant, a bearing, or a cup.

3. The system of claim 2 further including a controller coupled to the at least one electrode configured to modify at least one of pulse width, pulse repetition rate, or pulse amplitude of the energy pulse.

4. The system of claim 3 where the controller is configured to be under patient control.

5. The system of claim 3 further including at least one percutaneous electrode.

6. The system of claim 3 further including at least one subcutaneous electrode.

7. The system of claim 3 further including at least one intraosseus electrode coupled to the controller.

8. The system of claim 3 further including at least one topical electrode coupled to the controller.

9. A post-operative pain inhibitor system configured for post-operative treatment of a hip joint implant comprising:

a prosthetic hip component having at least one electrode where the at least one electrode is configured to deliver energy pulses, where the prosthetic hip component comprises at least one of a femoral implant, a bearing, or a cup;

a controller coupled to the at least one electrode configured to modify at least one of pulse width, pulse repetition rate, or pulse amplitude of the energy pulse; and

one or more sensors configured to couple to the controller to monitor at least one of temperature, perspiration, inflammatory markers, electromyogram signals, and swelling and where emitted energy pulses from the at least one electrode are configured to stimulate peripheral nerve fibers to block or inhibit a pain signal.

10. A post-operative pain inhibitor system configured for post-operative treatment of an implanted hip joint comprising:

a transmitter;

a power source coupled to the transmitter;

an electrode configured to couple to the transmitter where the electrode is in proximity to the implanted joint and where the electrode is configured to deliver energy pulses; and

a prosthetic hip component where one of the transmitter or power source is housed in the prosthetic component and where emitted energy pulses from the electrode are configured to stimulate peripheral nerve fibers to block or inhibit a pain signal.

11. The system of claim 10 further including a receiver coupled to the power source.

12. The system of claim 11 where the receiver is configured to receive energy wirelessly.

13. The system of claim 12 where the prosthetic component further comprises the at least one electrode.

14. The system of claim 10 further including a controller configured to be coupled to at least one electrode where the controller is configured to modify at least one of the pulse width, pulse repetition rate, pulse shape, or pulse amplitude.

15. The system of claim 10 further including further including at least one electrode configured to subcutaneously couple in proximity to the operative field.

16. The system of claim 10 further including at least one electrode configured to percutaneously couple in proximity to the operative field.

17. The system of claim 10 further including at least one electrode configured to intraosseously couple in proximity to the operative field.

18. A post-operative pain inhibitor system configured for post-operative treatment of a hip joint implant comprising:

a controller;

a prosthetic hip component;

an electrode where the electrode is configured to attach to skin in proximity to the component, where the controller is configured to couple to the electrode, and where the at least one electrode is configured to deliver energy pulses;

a transmitter configured to couple to the electrode; and

a power source coupled to the transmitter where one of the transmitter or power source is housed in the prosthetic hip component and where emitted energy pulses from the electrode are configured to stimulate peripheral nerve fibers to block or inhibit a pain signal.

19. The system of claim 18 further including a receiver coupled to the power source where the receiver is configured to receive energy wirelessly.

20. The system of claim 18 further including a percutaneous electrode configured to couple in proximity to the operative field where the controller is configured to coupled to the percutaneous electrode and where the percutaneous electrode is configured to deliver energy pulses.