Implantable pedometer
First Claim
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1. An implantable pedometer for measuring use of a joint in a skeletal system, comprising:
- an elongated housing having an external surface, at least a portion of the external surface configured for bone engagement;
an acoustic sensor disposed within the housing, the sensor adapted for detecting a sound indicative of joint use;
a memory unit disposed within the cylindrical housing and in communication with the sensor, the memory unit adapted for storing a count data corresponding to the number of sounds indicative of joint use detected; and
a telemetry circuit configured for transmitting the count data outside of the skeletal system.
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Abstract
An implantable pedometer for measuring the amount of joint use is disclosed. The implantable pedometer includes a sensor adapted for detecting indicators of joint usage. A counter is configured for storing count data corresponding to the number of indicators detected by the sensor and a telemetry circuit is configured for transmitting the count data outside of the body.
186 Citations
49 Claims
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1. An implantable pedometer for measuring use of a joint in a skeletal system, comprising:
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an elongated housing having an external surface, at least a portion of the external surface configured for bone engagement; an acoustic sensor disposed within the housing, the sensor adapted for detecting a sound indicative of joint use; a memory unit disposed within the cylindrical housing and in communication with the sensor, the memory unit adapted for storing a count data corresponding to the number of sounds indicative of joint use detected; and a telemetry circuit configured for transmitting the count data outside of the skeletal system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An implantable pedometer for measuring use of a joint in a skeletal system, comprising:
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an acoustic sensor adapted for detecting an indicator of joint use a counter for storing a count data corresponding to the number of indicators detected; a telemetry circuit configured for transmitting the count data outside of the skeletal system; and an elongated housing for holding the acoustic sensor, the counter, and the telemetry circuit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An implantable pedometer for measuring use of a joint in a skeletal system, comprising:
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a single elongated pedometer housing adapted for containing all components of the pedometer; a sensor disposed within the pedometer housing, the sensor adapted for detecting indicators of joint use and storing a count data corresponding to the number of indicators detected; and a telemetry circuit disposed within the housing, the telemetry circuit configured for transmitting the count data outside of the skeletal system.
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21. A method of using an implantable pedometer to evaluate use of a joint in a body, comprising:
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implanting a programmable sensor into the body, the sensor adapted for detecting indicators associated with use of the joint, storing a usage data corresponding to the number of indicators detected that satisfy a threshold, and modifying the threshold based on an external input; obtaining the usage data from the sensor; and analyzing the usage data to evaluate the amount of use of the joint. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An implantable pedometer for measuring use of an artificial hip implant within a patient, the pedometer comprising:
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an elongated housing adapted for implantation through a catheter and separate from the artificial hip implant, the housing having an external surface configured for tissue engagement; an acoustic sensor disposed within the housing, the acoustic sensor configured for detecting an acoustic indicator of the patient taking a step; a memory unit disposed within the housing and in communication with the acoustic sensor, the memory unit for storing a count data corresponding to the number of indicators detected; and a telemetry circuit configured for transmitting the count data outside of the skeletal system. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification