Prosthetic knee joint measurement system including energy harvesting and method therefor

• US 9,259,179 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2014
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Howmedica Osteonics Corp. (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: OrthoSensor, Inc (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Stein, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMPSON, JEWEL VERGIE
• Application Number:
  US14/295,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20140288464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 733/790.1, 600/424
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3782 transmitter or receiver in catheter or minimal invasive instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• 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 5/4509 Bone density determination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4851 Prosthesis assessment or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6846 specially adapted to be brought in contact with an internal body part, i.e. invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6861 Capsules, e.g. for swallowing or implanting
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/32 for the hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3877 Patellae or trochleae
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/389 Tibial components A61F2/3868 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4657 Measuring instruments used for implanting artificial joints for surgical instruments A61B90/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/468 Testing instruments for artificial joints for testing non-implantable prostheses A61F2/76
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3067 for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4666 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/469 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0093 : Ultrasound system, e.g. for inducing coagulation during eye surgery
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation

Abstract

An orthopedic implant having an energy-harvesting device is disclosed. In one embodiment the orthopedic implant is a prosthetic component of a joint of the muscular-skeletal system. The orthopedic implant can include electronic circuitry, a power source, and one or more sensors for measuring a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system or a parameter of in proximity to the implant. The energy-harvesting device generates charge for powering the electronic circuitry using movement of the muscular-skeletal system. The energy-harvesting device comprises a piezo-electric element that converts changes in force into charge that is stored onto a storage device. The energy-harvesting device is coupled to the patella of a knee joint. Movement of the knee joint changes a force applied to the energy-harvesting device thereby generating charge that is coupled to circuitry in a prosthetic component of the knee joint.

Claims

1. An orthopedic measurement system comprising:

an energy-harvesting device coupled to a patella;

a storage device coupled to the energy-harvesting device where the energy-harvesting device is configured to produce energy as a knee joint is moved through a range of motion and where the storage device is configured to store energy generated by the energy-harvesting device; and

electronic circuitry coupled to the storage device.

2. The system of claim 1 where the energy-harvesting device comprises a piezo-electric element responsive an applied force.

3. The system of claim 2 where the energy-harvesting device is configured to couple to a region between condyles of a femoral prosthetic component.

4. The system of claim 3 where the energy-harvesting device is configured to convert a change in applied force to electrical energy and where movement of the knee joint is configured to produce a changing force on the piezo-electric element as it moves along the region between condyles of the femoral prosthetic component.

5. The system of claim 1 further including:

one or more sensors coupled to the electronic circuitry configured to measure a parameter; and

a remote system configured to receive quantitative measurement data transmitted by the electronic circuitry.

6. The system of claim 1 further including a button where the button includes a surface that couples to a prepared surface of the patella and where the energy-harvesting device is coupled to an exposed surface of the button.

7. The system of claim 6 where the energy-harvesting device is a piezo-electric element and where the piezo-electric element is encapsulated.

8. The system of claim 7 where the button is cemented to the patella and where the button comprises a polymer material.

9. The system of claim 1 where the energy-harvesting device and the electronic circuitry are coupled by flexible wires and where the electronic circuitry is housed in one or more of a tibial prosthetic component, a femoral prosthetic component, an insert, or the patella.

10. The system of claim 1 where the storage device is a battery or capacitor.

11. An orthopedic measurement system comprising:

a piezo-electric element coupled to a patella;

a storage device coupled to the piezo-electric element where a knee joint is configured to apply a non-constant force to the piezo-electric element as a knee joint moves through a range of motion and where the storage device is configured to store energy generated by the piezo-electric element; and

electronic circuitry coupled to the storage device.

12. The system of claim 11 further including a button where the button includes a surface that couples to a prepared surface of the patella and where the piezo-electric element is coupled to an exposed surface of the button.

13. The system of claim 12 where the piezo-electric element is encapsulated.

14. The system of claim 12 where the button is cemented to the patella and where the button comprises a polymer material.

15. The system of claim 12 where the piezo-electric element couples to a region between condyles of a femoral prosthetic component.

16. The system of claim 11 where the piezo-electric element and the electronic circuitry are coupled by flexible wires and where the electronic circuitry is housed in one or more of a tibial prosthetic component, a femoral prosthetic component, an insert, or the patella.

17. The system of claim 16 further including:

one or more sensors coupled to the electronic circuitry configured to measure a parameter; and

a remote system configured to receive quantitative measurement data transmitted by the electronic circuitry.

18. The system of claim 17 further including a regulator coupled between the storage device and the electronic circuitry.

19. The system of claim 18 where the storage device is a battery or capacitor.

20. A method of providing energy to electronic circuitry comprising the steps of:

moving a knee joint through a range of motion where an energy-harvesting device on a patella couples to a region between condyles of a femoral prosthetic component whereby a variable force is generated on the energy-harvesting device as the knee joint is flexed;

generating energy as the variable force is applied to the energy-harvesting device;

charging a storage device with the energy generated by the energy-harvesting device;

powering electronic circuitry in a prosthetic component with energy harvested from the energy-harvesting device.