System and method for transmitting orthopaedic implant data

• US 20070239282A1
• Filed: 04/07/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Sherman, Jason, Caylor, Edward, DiSilvestro, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,075,627 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/20.340
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• 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 5/05 Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves impedance plethysmography A61B5/0295; measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24
• 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 5/1036 Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies
• 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 5/686 Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips A61B5/6861 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• 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 2002/30225 Flat cylinders, i.e. discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3067 for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3071 Identification means; Administration of patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30878 with non-sharp protrusions, for instance contacting the bone for anchoring, e.g. keels, pegs, pins, posts, shanks, stems, struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30884 Fins or wings, e.g. longitudinal wings for preventing rotation within the bone cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30953 using a remote computer network, e.g. Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4633 for selection of endoprosthetic joints or for pre-operative planning
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4666 : for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4672 : for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4689 : acoustic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4696 : optical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0002 : for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0085 : Identification means; Administration of patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 : for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 : relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 : for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/0037 : for power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 : for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A system and method for transmitting implant data includes an orthopaedic implant, a wireless receiver, and a processing circuit electrically coupled to the wireless receiver. The orthopaedic implant is configured to transmit implant identification data and implant sensor data to the wireless receiver in response to a power signal. The orthopedic implant may transfer the data over, for example, a wireless network. The processing circuit receives the implant identification data and the implant sensor data from the wireless receiver and is configured to retrieve patient-related data from a database based on the implant identification data. The processing circuit may also be configured to update a patient queue, assign a patient room to a patient, and/or transmit the patient-related data and the implant sensor data to a client machine located in the patient room.

Claims

1. An orthopaedic implant comprising:

a housing having a chamber defined therein; and

a secondary coil having a number of turns positioned so as to define a reference plane, the secondary coil being positioned in the camber of the housing such that the reference plane is substantially parallel with a sagittal plane of a body of a patient when the orthopaedic implant is implanted in the patient.

2. The orthopaedic implant of claim 1, wherein the orthopaedic implant is a tibial tray and the housing is a stem of the tibial tray.

3. The orthopaedic implant of claim 1, further comprising a processing circuit electrically coupled to the secondary coil and configured to receive a power signal from the secondary coil when the secondary coil is inductively coupled with a primary coil.

4. The orthopaedic implant of claim 3, further comprising:

a wireless transmitter coupled to the processing circuit; and

an antenna coil electrically coupled to the wireless transmitter,

wherein the processing circuit is configured to control the wireless transmitter to transmit implant identification data in response to the power signal using the antenna coil.

5. The orthopaedic implant of claim 4, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the implant identification data at a frequency of about 2.4 gigahertz.

6. The orthopaedic implant of claim 4, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the implant identification data using a wireless local area network frequency.

7. The orthopaedic implant of claim 4, wherein the processing circuit and the transmitter are configured to transmit the implant identification data using a Bluetooth transmission protocol.

8. The orthopaedic implant of claim 4, further comprising a sensor electrically coupled to the processing circuit, wherein the processing circuit is configured to:

receive an output signal from the sensor; and

control the wireless transmitter to transmit the output signal in response to the power signal using the antenna coil.

9. The orthopaedic implant of claim 8, wherein the sensor is a sensor selected from the group consisting of a pressure sensor, a load sensor, a temperature sensor, and a hall-effect sensor.

10. The orthopaedic implant of claim 8, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the output signal at a frequency of about 2.4 gigahertz.

11. The orthopaedic implant of claim 8, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the output signal using a wireless local area network frequency.

12. The orthopaedic implant of claim 8, wherein the processing circuit and the transmitter are configured to transmit the output signal using a Bluetooth transmission protocol.

13. A method for transmitting data from an orthopaedic implant, the method comprising:

receiving a power signal generated by a primary coil with a secondary coil of the orthopaedic implant;

receiving an output signal from a sensor of the orthopaedic implant in response to the power signal; and

wirelessly transmitting implant identification data and the output signal in response to the power signal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving a power signal comprises transcutaneously receiving an amount of energy from the primary coil with the secondary coil.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving an output signal from a sensor comprises receiving an output signal from a sensor selected from the group consisting of a pressure sensor, a load sensor, a temperature sensor, and a hall-effect sensor.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein wirelessly transmitting the implant identification data and the output signal comprises wirelessly transmitting the implant identification data and the output signal at a frequency of about 2.4 gigahertz.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein wirelessly transmitting the implant identification data and the output signal comprises wirelessly transmitting the implant identification data and the output signal using a wireless local area network frequency.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein wirelessly transmitting the implant identification data and the output signal comprises wirelessly transmitting the implant identification data and the output signal using a Bluetooth transmission protocol.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein wirelessly transmitting the implant identification data and the output signal comprises wirelessly transmitting the implant identification data and the output signal to a wireless router.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising powering a processing circuit of the orthopaedic implant with the power signal.

21. A system for managing patient-related data, the system comprising:

an orthopaedic implant configured to transmit implant identification data and implant sensor data in response to a power signal;

a primary coil configured to inductively couple with a secondary coil of the orthopaedic implant to provide the power signal to the orthopaedic implant;

a wireless receiver configured to receive the implant identification data and the implant sensor data transmitted by the orthopaedic implant;

a processor coupled to the wireless receiver; and

a memory device electrically coupled to the processor, the memory device having stored therein a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

receive the implant identification data and the implant sensor data from the wireless receiver; and

retrieve patient-related data from a database based on the implant identification data.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the primary coil is coupled to a gate configured to allow patients to travel therethrough.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the wireless receiver is a wireless router.

24. The system of claim 21, further comprising a wireless network, wherein the orthopaedic implant is configured to transmit the implant identification data and the implant sensor data to the wireless receiver over the wireless network.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the orthopaedic implant is configured to transmit the implant identification data and the implant sensor data at a frequency of about 2.4 gigahertz.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the orthopaedic implant is configured to transmit the implant identification data and the implant sensor data using a Bluetooth transmission protocol.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein to retrieve patient-related data comprises to retrieve the patient-related data from a database of a hospital network.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein the plurality of instructions further cause the processor to update an electronically-stored patient queue based on the retrieving step.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the plurality of instructions further cause the processor to assign a patient room to a patient identified by the patient-related data based on the electronically-stored patient queue.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the plurality of instructions further cause the processor to transmit the patient-related data and the output sensor data to a client machine located in the patient room.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the plurality of instructions further cause the processor to:

determine the availability of the patient room based on the electronically-stored patient queue; and

provide an electronic notification if the patient room is available.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein to provide an electronic notification comprises to activate a public address system.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein to provide an electronic notification comprises to display a name of a patient identified by the patient-related data on a display screen.

34. The system of claim 21, wherein the plurality of instructions further cause the processor to transmit the patient-related data and the implant sensor data to a client machine over a wireless network.

35. The system of claim 21, wherein the plurality of instructions further cause the processor to transmit the patient-related data to a portable media device.

36. The system of claim 21, wherein the plurality of instructions further cause the processor to:

receive security code data; and

determine the validity of the security code data.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein to determine the validity of the security code data comprises to compare the security code data to electronically stored security code data.

38. A system comprising:

a gate having a passageway and a primary coil formed from a number of first coil turns positioned so as to define a first reference plane; and

an orthopaedic implant having a secondary coil formed from a number of second coil turns positioned so as to define a second reference plane, the secondary coil being positioned in the orthopaedic implant such that the second reference plane is substantially parallel with the first reference plane when the orthopaedic implant is implanted in a body of a patient and the patient is traveling through the passageway.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the first reference plane and the second reference plane are substantially parallel with a sagittal plane of the body of the patient when the orthopaedic implant is implanted in a body of a patient and the patient is traveling through the passageway.