Adjustable orthopedic implant and method for treating an orthopedic condition in a subject

• US 20100262160A1
• Filed: 08/21/2009
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Boyden, Edward S., Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Leuthardt, Eric C., Della Rocca, Gregory J., Santiago, Paul, Stewart, Todd J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,095,437 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/130
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/68 Internal fixation devices , including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin bone staples A61B17/0642
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30 Joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/32 for the hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/38 for elbows or knees
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/40 for shoulders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/42 for wrists or ankles; for hands, e.g. fingers; for feet, e.g. toes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/48 Operating or control means, e.g. from outside the body, control of sphincters
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30537 adjustable
• 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 2250/0002 for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0004 adjustable

Abstract

An orthopedic implant is described including at least one adjustment mechanism configured for securing to at least one orthopedic structure of a subject, and at least one motor operatively connected to the at least one adjustment mechanism, wherein the at least one motor is configured to move the at least one adjustment mechanism in at least three degrees of freedom.

Claims

1-40. -40. (canceled)

41. A method comprising:

providing an orthopedic implant comprising at least one adjustment mechanism configured for securing to at least one orthopedic structure of a subject; and

at least one motor operably connected to the at least one adjustment mechanism;

wherein the at least one motor is configured to move the at least one. adjustment mechanism in at least three degrees of freedom.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the at least one motor includes at least three motors.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the at least one motor includes at least six motors.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein the at least one motor is configured to move the at least one adjustment mechanism in six degrees of freedom.

45. The method of claim 41, further including providing a controller configured to receive an input signal to actuate the at least one motor.

46. The method of claim 45, further including providing a remote source configured to send the input signal.

47. The method of claim 45, further including providing a sensor configured to send the input signal.

48. The method of claim 45, further including providing a computer-readable storage medium configured to send the input signal.

49. The method of claim 45, wherein the controller is configured to control actuation of the at least one motor configured to maintain the internal orthopedic structure in a defined position.

50. The method of claim 45, wherein the controller is configured to control actuation of the at least one motor to execute a sequence of two or more defined configurational changes to the adjustment mechanism.

51. The method of claim 45, wherein the controller is configured to receive the input signal originating from human input.

52. The method of claim 45, wherein the controller is configured to receive the input signal originating from data input.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the data input is X-ray data, magnetic resonance imaging data, or ultrasound data.

54. The method of claim 45, further including providing a sensor configured to inform the controller in response to a sensed condition of the orthopedic structure.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the sensor is configured to detect one or more of strain, pressure, motion, stress, load, or position change of the orthopedic structure.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein the sensor includes a strain gauge, accelerometer, piezoelectric film, Hall effect sensor, linear variable displacement transducer (LVDT), differential variable reluctance transducer (DVRT), or reed switch sensor.

57. The method of claim 54, wherein the sensor is configured to detect health or integrity of the orthopedic structure.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the sensor is configured to detect ultrasound through the orthopedic structure or conductivity of the orthopedic structure.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein the sensor is configured to detect an osteogenic cell marker.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the osteogenic cell marker is on a mesenchymal stem cell or osteoblast.

61. The method of claim 59, wherein the osteogenic cell marker is alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, CBFA1/Osf2, or collagen 1A1.

62. The method of claim 54, further including providing a transmitter in communication with the sensor and the controller, the transmitter configured to report activity of the implant to an external source.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein the transmitter is configured to report activity of the implant including the sensed condition of the orthopedic structure.

64. The method of claim 54, further including providing a transmitter in communication with the sensor and the controller, the transmitter configured to send an actuation signal to the at least one motor.

65. The method of claim 62, wherein the external source is a human being or computing device.

66. The method of claim 41, wherein the at least one motor is remotely-actuated.

67. The method of claim 41, wherein the at least one motor includes at least one of an electronic motor, electrostrictive motor, piezoelectric motor, ultrasonically-activated motor, shape memory alloy actuator, paraffin actuator, electromagnetic solenoid, or electroactive polymer.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein the at least one motor includes a stepper motor, drive motor, or servomotor.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein the at least one motor includes a piezoelectric stepper motor.

70. The method of claim 67, wherein the at least one motor includes an ultrasonic lead screw motor.

71. The method of claim 67, wherein the piezoelectric motor is configured to hold a position between activations.

72. The method of claim 41, wherein the at least one motor is configured to controllably move the adjustment mechanism in at least three degrees of freedom to lengthen the internal orthopedic structure, shorten the internal orthopedic structure, tighten the internal orthopedic structure, apply compression to the internal orthopedic structure, twist the internal orthopedic structure, shear the internal orthopedic structure, increase or decrease stress or load on the internal orthopedic structure, or adjust curvature of the internal orthopedic structure.

73. The method of claim 41, wherein the at least one motor is configured to controllably move the adjustment mechanism in at least three degrees of freedom including translational movement along one or more of three substantially perpendicular axes or rotational movement about one or more of the three substantially perpendicular axes, to controllably move two or more surfaces of the adjustment mechanism.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the at least one motor is configured to activate the adjustment mechanism to controllably move the two or more surfaces of the adjustment mechanism in at least three degrees of freedom.

75. The method of claim 73, wherein the two or more surfaces of the adjustment mechanism are configured to be attached to the orthopedic structure.

76. The method of claim 73, wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to be incrementally adjusted.

77. The method of claim 41, wherein the orthopedic structure is bone.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to be attached at a bone fracture site, bone graft, or fused bone.

79. The method of claim 41, wherein the at least one motor is powered from a remote energy source coupled via conductors, electromagnetic energy, ultrasonic energy, electric energy, or magnetic energy.

80. The method of claim 41, wherein the at least one motor is powered from an internal energy source including battery, capacitor, or mechanical storage.

81-98. -98. (canceled)