IN-VIVO CONDITION MONITORING OF METALLIC IMPLANTS BY ELECTROCHEMICAL TECHNIQUES

• US 20140379090A1
• Filed: 08/08/2012
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ecole polytechnique fãdãrale de lausanne epfl (Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft)
• Original Assignee: Ecole polytechnique fãdãrale de lausanne epfl (Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft)
• Inventors: Meurville, Eric, Diomidis, Nikitas, Mischler, Stefano
• Application Number:
  US14/237,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20140379090A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/20.17
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30 Joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/32 for the hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/36 Femoral heads ; Femoral endoprostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/38 for elbows or knees
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4657 Measuring instruments used for implanting artificial joints for surgical instruments A61B90/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/488 Means for detecting or monitoring wear
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2821 Bone stimulation by electromagnetic fields or electric current for enhancing ossification
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30107 using materials or accessories for preventing galvanic or electrolytic corrosion
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30668 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3067 for data transfer

Abstract

The invention relates to a replacement metallic prosthesis to be implanted which contains means monitor its condition during use in order to allow an early detection of failure or insufficient functionality, wherein said means comprise implanted sensors and electronics (3) and a remote device (9), to measure the implant'"'"'s function and degradation during its life span, wherein said sensors are electro chemical sensors with electrodes (1). The prosthesis according to the invention may also be used to promote bone growth. The invention also relates to a method using the device of the invention.

Claims

1. A metallic prosthesis to be implanted in a body, for example a human or animal body, which contains means to monitor its condition during use in order to allow an early detection of failure or insufficient functionality, and/or to apply a stimulating condition, wherein said means comprise at least implanted sensors with electrodes and electronic device and a remote device, to measure the implant'"'"'s function and degradation during its life span, wherein said sensors are electrochemical sensors.

2. The prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein said electronic device comprises at least a signal processor, a communication subsystem.

3. The prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the communication subsystem comprises a Radio Frequency front-end and its antenna which allows the wireless external downloading of the measured data by the electrodes or the application of energy to apply the stimulating condition.

4. The prosthesis as defined in claim 3, wherein the electronic device is passive and said remote device comprises an energy source.

5. The prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein micro-electrodes are used.

6. The prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes are made of Ag or tungsten, or another equivalent material.

7. The prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein said prosthesis is a hip prosthesis.

8. The prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein said prosthesis is a knee prosthesis.

9. A method of measuring the functionality of an implanted prosthesis using the prosthesis as defined in claim 1.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein measuring the functionality of an implanted prosthesis utilizes one or more of Open Circuit Potential (OCP), Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), or Polarization Resistance (Rp) measurements.

11. A method of using an implanted prosthesis with electrodes as defined in claim 1, wherein said prosthesis is used to promote bone growth by applying an electric current to the environment of the electrodes of said prosthesis.