Dynamized interspinal implant
First Claim
1. A method for post-operatively actuating an implant that has been surgically implanted with at least one portion within a functional spinal unit of a patient, the implant including a sensor capable of determining a change in the physical surroundings of the implant and being capable of delivering an electric current, the implant being implanted and configured so as to be able to provide an electrical stimulus to a fluid, comprising:
- post-operatively analyzing by the sensor of the physical surroundings of the implant, wherein analyzing the physical surroundings of the implant includes analyzing the patient'"'"'s motion;
post-operatively determining by the sensor of a significant change in the physical surroundings of the implant; and
post-operatively adjusting a characteristic of the functional spinal unit in response to the determined significant change in the physical surroundings of the implant, wherein adjusting a characteristic of the patient'"'"'s spinal column includes applying an electrical stimulus to the fluid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An interspinous process implant for insertion between adjacent spinous processes, the implant having a flexible body having i) an upper posterior portion having an upper surface adapted to bear upon an upper spinous process, ii) a lower posterior portion having a lower surface adapted to bear upon a lower spinous process, and iii) an arcuate, flexible anterior wall connecting the upper and lower portions, wherein the anterior wall has a narrowed portion.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for post-operatively actuating an implant that has been surgically implanted with at least one portion within a functional spinal unit of a patient, the implant including a sensor capable of determining a change in the physical surroundings of the implant and being capable of delivering an electric current, the implant being implanted and configured so as to be able to provide an electrical stimulus to a fluid, comprising:
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post-operatively analyzing by the sensor of the physical surroundings of the implant, wherein analyzing the physical surroundings of the implant includes analyzing the patient'"'"'s motion; post-operatively determining by the sensor of a significant change in the physical surroundings of the implant; and post-operatively adjusting a characteristic of the functional spinal unit in response to the determined significant change in the physical surroundings of the implant, wherein adjusting a characteristic of the patient'"'"'s spinal column includes applying an electrical stimulus to the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for adjusting an implant, the method comprising:
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post-operatively detecting, by a sensor, a change in physical surroundings of an implant surgically implanted with at least one portion posterior to a patient'"'"'s spinal cord, the change in the physical surroundings including a change of the patient'"'"'s spine associated with pain; and outputting, by the sensor, a representation of the change, the representation indicating that a post-operative adjustment to the implant is warranted to alleviate the patient'"'"'s pain or including information that may be used to determine that a post-operative adjustment is warranted. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification