Therapeutic system

• US 8,750,983 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2004
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: P TECH, LLC
• Original Assignee: P TECH, LLC
• Inventors: Bonutti, Peter M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, KAITLYN ELIZABETH
• Application Number:
  US10/945,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20060064082A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,550 Days
• Field of Search: 606/28, 606/27, 606 32- 34, 606/41, 607/96, 607 98-101, 607/103, 607/102, 600 12- 13, 623/1.1, 623/1.11, 623/1.42
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22004 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic shock waves A61B17/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22012 in direct contact with, or very close to, the obstruction or concrement for removing obstructions in blood vessels by laser A61B18/245
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable or resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00075 Motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00106 ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22015 with details of the transmission member
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0001 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/008 Apparatus for applying pressure or blows almost perpendicular to the body or limb axis, e.g. chiropractic devices for repositioning vertebrae, correcting deformation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2023/002 having a percussion element combined with a passive spacer element for bearing against the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/02 heated or cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0207 heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/10 with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/105 with means for delivering media, e.g. drugs or cosmetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5012 using the internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/00 Percussion or vibration massage, e.g. using supersonic vibration; Suction-vibration massage; Massage with moving diaphragms apparatus for passive exercising A61H1/00; generating or transmitting mechanical vibrations in general B06B
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/002 : in combination with another treatment
• 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 2007/0052 : using the same transducer for therapy and imaging
• 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

The present invention provides a system and method to non-invasively deliver a therapeutic amount of energy to a treatment site to fragment particulate material. More specifically, an external power source is provided for transmitting energy non-invasively through the skin and body of a patient to a medical implant. The medical implant, including an energy focusing device, is surgically positioned at the treatment site. The energy focusing device is configured to receive the transmitted energy and directing therapeutic energy to the treatment site to fragment particulate material.

Claims

1. A medical system comprising:

at least one external transducer configured to non-invasively transmit an energy signal at one or more frequencies to a treatment site associated with a joint in a body of a patient; and

a joint replacement having at least one energy focusing portion positionable at the treatment site, the energy focusing portion being configured to receive said energy signal and focus said energy signal to reduce materials associated with the treatment site.

2. The medical system of claim 1, wherein the joint replacement includes a knee implant.

3. The medical system of claim 1, wherein the joint replacement includes a spinal implant.

4. The medical system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the joint replacement includes a tissue scaffold, tissue graft, or cellular material.

5. The medical system of claim 1, wherein the joint replacement includes a hip implant.

6. The medical system of claim 1, wherein the reduced materials include particulate materials.

7. The medical system of claim 1, wherein the reduced materials are associated with pain or infection.

8. The medical system of claim 1, wherein the reduction of materials results in a release of enzymes, proteins, or RNA.

9. The medical system of claim 1, wherein the reduction of materials results in a change in vascular flow or permeability of vessels at the treatment site.

10. The medical system of claim 1, wherein the reduced materials include at least one of endothelium, tissue overgrowth, scar tissue, adhesions, calcific deposits, myositis ossificans, or heterotopic tissue.

11. The medical system of claim 1, further comprising a pH sink configured to change a pH associated with the treatment site.

12. The medical system of claim 1, wherein the reduced materials include wear debris.

13. The medical system of claim 1, wherein the energy signal includes ultrasonic energy.

14. The medical system of claim 1, wherein the energy signal includes convergent point shockwave energy.

15. The medical system of claim 1, wherein the energy signal includes at least one of radio frequency, magnetic, electro magnetic, acoustic, microwave, thermal, vibratory, radiation, or extracorporeal shockwave energy.

16. The medical system of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a temperature sensor, pressure sensor, tension sensor, density sensor, or flow sensor.

17. The medical system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to detect at least one of heat variations, cooling energy, pH gradients, electrical charge, electrolytes, magnetic charge, or changes in local chemistry.

18. A medical system comprising:

at least one external transducer configured to non-invasively transmit an energy signal at one or more frequencies to a treatment site associated with a body portion of a patient; and

a rod implant having at least one energy focusing portion positionable at the treatment site, the energy focusing portion being configured to receive said energy signal and focus said energy signal to reduce materials associated with the treatment site.

19. The medical system of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the implant includes a tissue scaffold, tissue graft, or cellular material.

20. The medical system of claim 18, wherein the reduced materials include particulate materials.

21. The medical system of claim 18, wherein the reduced materials are associated with pain or infection.

22. The medical system of claim 18, wherein the reduction of materials results in a release of enzymes, proteins, or RNA.

23. The medical system of claim 18, wherein the reduction of materials results in a change in vascular flow or permeability of vessels at the treatment site.

24. The medical system of claim 18, wherein the reduced materials include at least one of endothelium, tissue overgrowth, scar tissue, adhesions, calcific deposits, myositis ossificans, or heterotopic tissue.

25. The medical system of claim 18, further comprising a pH sink configured to change a pH associated with the treatment site.

26. The medical system of claim 18, wherein the energy signal includes ultrasonic energy.

27. The medical system of claim 18, wherein the energy signal includes convergent point shockwave energy.

28. The medical system of claim 18, wherein the energy signal includes at least one of radio frequency, magnetic, electro magnetic, acoustic, microwave, thermal, vibratory, radiation, or extracorporeal shockwave energy.

29. The medical system of claim 18, further comprising at least one of a temperature sensor, pressure sensor, tension sensor, density sensor, or flow sensor.

30. The medical system of claim 18, further comprising a sensor configured to detect at least one of heat variations, cooling energy, pH gradients, electrical charge, electrolytes, magnetic charge, or changes in local chemistry.

31. A medical system comprising:

at least one external transducer configured to non-invasively transmit an energy signal at one or more frequencies to a treatment site associated with a body portion of a patient; and

a plate implant having at least one energy focusing portion positionable at the treatment site, the energy focusing portion being configured to receive said energy signal and focus said energy signal to reduce materials associated with the treatment site.

32. The medical system of claim 31, wherein at least a portion of the implant includes a tissue scaffold, tissue graft, or cellular material.

33. The medical system of claim 31, wherein the reduced materials include particulate materials.

34. The medical system of claim 31, wherein the reduced materials are associated with pain or infection.

35. The medical system of claim 31, wherein the reduction of materials results in a release of enzymes, proteins, or RNA.

36. The medical system of claim 31, wherein the reduction of materials results in a change in vascular flow or permeability of vessels at the treatment site.

37. The medical system of claim 31, wherein the reduced materials include at least one of endothelium, tissue overgrowth, scar tissue, adhesions, calcific deposits, myositis ossificans, or heterotopic tissue.

38. The medical system of claim 31, further comprising a pH sink configured to change a pH associated with the treatment site.

39. The medical system of claim 31, wherein the energy signal includes ultrasonic energy.

40. The medical system of claim 31, wherein the energy signal includes convergent point shockwave energy.

41. The medical system of claim 31, wherein the energy signal includes at least one of radio frequency, magnetic, electro magnetic, acoustic, microwave, thermal, vibratory, radiation, or extracorporeal shockwave energy.

42. The medical system of claim 31, further comprising at least one of a temperature sensor, pressure sensor, tension sensor, density sensor, or flow sensor.

43. The medical system of claim 31, further comprising a sensor configured to detect at least one of heat variations, cooling energy, pH gradients, electrical charge, electrolytes, magnetic charge, or changes in local chemistry.

44. A medical system comprising:

at least one external transducer configured to non-invasively transmit an energy signal at one or more frequencies to a treatment site associated with a body portion of a patient;

a biologic implant having at least one energy focusing portion positionable at the treatment site, the energy focusing portion being configured to receive said energy signal and focus said energy signal to reduce materials associated with the treatment site; and

a pH sink configured to change a pH associated with the treatment site.

45. A medical system comprising:

at least one external transducer configured to non-invasively transmit an energy signal at one or more frequencies to a treatment site associated with a bone of a patient; and

a bone implant having at least one energy focusing portion positionable at the treatment site, the energy focusing portion being configured to receive said energy signal and focus said energy signal to reduce materials associated with the treatment site.