Adjustable, remote-controllable orthopaedic prosthesis and associated method

• US 8,419,801 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2009
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: DiSilvestro, Mark R., Dietz, Terry L., Hastings, Robert S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sweet, Thomas J
• Assistant Examiner(s): WOLF, MEGAN YARNALL
• Application Number:
  US12/491,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20090259319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 623/16.11, 623/18.11, 623/18.12, 623/22.4, 623/23.17, 623 2344- 2347, 606/61, 606/62, 606/63, 606/64, 606/68, 606/90, 606/105
• US Class Current: 623/23.47
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30744 End caps, e.g. for closing an endoprosthetic cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/36 Femoral heads ; Femoral endoprostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3662 Femoral shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/367 Proximal or metaphyseal parts of shafts trochanteric devices connected to said proximal parts A61F2/30739
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3676 Distal or diaphyseal parts of shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/38 for elbows or knees
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/389 Tibial components A61F2/3868 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/482 Electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30153 rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30235 tubular, e.g. sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30332 Conically- or frustoconically-shaped protrusion and recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30352 Protrusion and recess of D-shaped cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30355 Cylinder of elliptical or oval basis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30367 with additional means for preventing said rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30372 with additional means for limiting said translation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30403 Longitudinally-oriented cooperating ribs and grooves on mating lateral surfaces of a mainly longitudinal connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30405 made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30476 locked by an additional locking mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30522 releasable, e.g. using a releasable ratchet
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30523 by means of meshing gear teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30538 : for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3055 : for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30553 : for adjusting a position by translation along an axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30555 : along two perpendicular axes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30589 : Sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 : hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30601 : telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 : modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30616 : Sets comprising a plurality of prosthetic parts of different sizes or orientations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30668 : Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3067 : for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30677 : Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30706 : specially designed for children, e.g. having means for adjusting to their growth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3079 : Stepped or enlarged apertures, e.g. having discrete diameter changes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3625 : Necks
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3647 : pierced with a longitudinal bore
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/365 : Connections of heads to necks
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3652 : Connections of necks to shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3674 : Connections of proximal parts to distal parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/368 : with lateral apertures, bores, holes or openings, e.g. for reducing the mass, for receiving fixation screws or for communicating with the inside of a hollow shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4631 : the prosthesis being specially adapted for being cemented
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4696 : optical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0033 : made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0019 : rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0001 : Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0002 : for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0006 : for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0008 : for adjusting a position by translation along an axis or two perpendicular axes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0082 : specially designed for children, e.g. having means for adjusting to their growth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00017 : Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 : Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00029 : Cobalt-based alloys, e.g. Co-Cr alloys or Vitallium
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00179 : Ceramics or ceramic-like structures

Abstract

An implantable, adjustable prosthesis includes a first component which may be moved relative to a second component by use of a transcutaneous control signal. A method of operating such a prosthesis is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An orthopaedic system comprising:

an implantable hip prosthesis comprising;

(i) a first component defining a first axis,

(ii) a second component configured to receive a femoral head prosthesis and configured to move relative to the first component along a second axis extending oblique relative to the first axis,

(iii) a drive assembly operable to adjust the position of the second component along the second axis relative to the first component,

(iv) a sensor secured to one of the first component and the second component, the sensor being configured to sense the relative position of the first component and the second component, and

(v) an electronic controller electrically coupled to the sensor so as to receive an output therefrom.

2. The orthopaedic system of claim 1, wherein the electronic controller is further configured to control operation of the drive assembly.

3. The orthopaedic system of claim 1, wherein the electronic controller comprises an antenna configured to receive signals from outside the body of a patient subsequent to the prosthesis being implanted in the body of a patient.

4. The orthopaedic system of claim 1, wherein the implantable hip prosthesis further comprises a power source electrically coupled to the drive assembly.

5. The orthopaedic system of claim 1, further comprising an external transmitter, wherein the external transmitter is configured to transmit signals from outside the body to the electronic controller subsequent to the prosthesis being implanted in the body of the patient.

6. An orthopaedic system comprising:

an implantable hip prosthesis comprising;

(i) an elongated stem assembly, the elongated stem assembly defining a first axis and configured to be received in a surgically prepared medullary canal of a femur,

(ii) a neck configured to receive a femoral head prosthesis, the neck being configured to move along a second axis extending oblique to the first axis,

(iii) a drive assembly operable to adjust the position of the neck along the second axis relative to the elongated stem assembly,

(iv) a sensor configured to sense the relative position of the elongated stem assembly and the neck, and

(v) an electronic controller electrically coupled to the sensor so as to receive an output therefrom.

7. The orthopaedic system of claim 6, wherein the electronic controller is further configured to control operation of the drive assembly.

8. The orthopaedic system of claim 6, wherein the electronic controller comprises an antenna configured to receive signals from outside the body of a patient subsequent to the prosthesis being implanted in the body of the patient.

9. The orthopaedic system of claim 6, wherein the implantable hip prosthesis further comprises a power source electrically coupled to the drive assembly.

10. The orthopaedic system of claim 6, further comprising an external transmitter, wherein the external transmitter is configured to transmit signals from outside the body of a patient to the electronic controller subsequent to the prosthesis being implanted in the body of the patient.

11. An orthopaedic implant, comprising:

an implantable hip prosthesis, comprising;

an elongated stem assembly,

a neck component,

a first drive assembly coupled to the elongated stem assembly and configured to move the elongated stem assembly along a first axis,

a second drive assembly coupled to the neck component and configured to move the neck component along a second axis, the second axis being different than the first axis, and

a power source secured to at least one of the elongated stem assembly and the neck component, wherein the power source is electrically coupled to both the first drive assembly and the second drive assembly.

12. The orthopaedic implant of claim 11, further comprising a controller secured to at least one of the elongated stem assembly and the neck component, wherein the controller is configured to control operation of both the first drive assembly and the second drive assembly.

13. The orthopaedic implant of claim 12, further comprising an external transmitter, wherein the external transmitter is configured to transmit signals from outside the body of a patient to the controller subsequent to the prosthesis being implanted in the body of the patient.

14. The orthopaedic implant of claim 13, further comprising an external receiver, wherein the external receiver is configured to receive signals generated by the controller from within the body subsequent to the prosthesis being implanted in the body of the patient.

15. The orthopaedic implant of claim 11, further comprising a position sensor configured to sense the position of at least one of the elongated stem assembly and the neck component.