Hermetically sealed prosthetic component and method therefor

• US 8,679,186 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2012
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Howmedica Osteonics Corp. (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ortho Sensor Incorporated
• Inventors: Stein, Marc, Chase, Andrew U.
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMPSON, JEWEL VERGIE
• Application Number:
  US13/406,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20120191206A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 623/20.32, 623/595, 606/102, 606/90
• US Class Current: 623/20.32
• 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 5/4509 Bone density determination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6846 specially adapted to be brought in contact with an internal body part, i.e. invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3859 Femoral components
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/389 Tibial components A61F2/3868 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A prosthetic component suitable for long-term implantation is provided. The prosthetic component measures a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system is disclosed. The prosthetic component comprises a first structure having at least one support surface, a second structure having at least one feature configured to couple to bone, and at least one sensor. The electronic circuitry and sensors are hermetically sealed within the prosthetic component. The sensor couples to the support surface of the first structure. The first and second structure are coupled together housing the at least one sensor. In one embodiment, the first and second structure are welded together forming the hermetic seal that isolates the at least one sensor from an external environment. The at least one sensor can be a pressure sensor for measuring load and position of load.

Claims

1. A prosthetic component for measuring a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system comprising:

a first structure having at least one support surface;

a second structure having a feature configured to couple to bone where the first and second structures are coupled together having at least one cavity therein; and

at least one sensor coupled to the support surface where the at least one cavity and the at least one sensor is hermetically sealed from an external environment.

2. The prosthetic component of claim 1 where the first structure or second structure comprises steel, titanium, cobalt, or an alloy thereof.

3. The prosthetic component of claim 2 where the first structure and second structure are sealed by welding.

4. The prosthetic component of claim 1 where one of or a portion thereof of the first structure or the second structure comprises PEEK plastic.

5. The prosthetic component of claim 1 where electronic circuitry is housed in the at least one cavity within the prosthetic component and where the at least one sensor couples to the electronic circuitry.

6. The prosthetic component of claim 1 where the at least one sensor is configured to measure a force, pressure, or load applied to the at least one support surface.

7. The prosthetic component of claim 6 where the prosthetic component includes a plurality of sensors where the plurality of sensors are configured to measure a location of applied force, pressure, or load on the at least one support surface.

8. The prosthetic component of claim 1 where the at least one support surface of the first structure is compliant.

9. The prosthetic component of claim 1 further including a second prosthetic component having a load bearing surface and an articular surface where the load bearing surface couples to the at least one support surface.

10. A tibial prosthetic component comprising:

a first structure having at least one support surface;

a second structure having a feature configured to couple to bone where the first and second structures are coupled together; and

at least one sensor coupled to the at least one support surface where the first and second structure house the at least one sensor and where the at least one sensor is hermetically sealed from an external environment.

11. The tibial prosthetic component of claim 10 where the first structure comprises a first and a second support surface.

12. The tibial prosthetic component of claim 11 further including a housing between the first and second support surface of the first structure.

13. The tibial prosthetic component of claim 10 where a cavity is located in proximity to the feature configured to couple to bone.

14. The tibial prosthetic component of claim 10 where electronic circuitry is housed in the prosthetic component and where the electronic circuitry couples to the at least one sensor.

15. The tibial prosthetic component of claim 14 where the first and second structures comprise steel.

16. The tibial prosthetic component of claim 15 where the first and second structures are welded together to form the housing that isolates the electronic circuitry and at least one sensor from the external environment.

17. The tibial prosthetic component of claim 10 where one of or a portion thereof of the first structure or the second structure comprises PEEK plastic.

18. The tibial prosthetic component of claim 10 where the prosthetic component includes a transmissive region.

19. A method of assembling a sensored prosthetic component comprising the steps of:

placing at least one sensor and electronic circuitry in the prosthetic component;

coupling a first structure having a support surface to a second structure configured to couple to bone; and

hermetically sealing the first structure to the second structure such that the first and second structures form a housing whereby the at least one sensor and electronic circuitry are isolated from an external environment.

20. The method of claim 19 where the step of coupling the first structure to the second structure comprises a step of welding the first structure to the second structure to form a hermetic seal.